GRILLED CUBAN SANDWICHES 2 WAYS!!

Today I am sharing a great sandwich idea that is a tasty, tried and true and has deep roots in American culture. The Cuban sandwich is a favorite in Florida. Hailing from Miami and Tampa these sandwiches can be made two different ways and enjoyed. It is a great way to feed your family lunch or dinner and in my case a great way to use leftover pork roast or even smoked pulled pork in a way that everyone will love! When you eat this you will say Muy Bueno!

Cuban sandwiches are something you may have seen on the menu at your favorite restaurant, but maybe you have never tried it. Or maybe you only get it when you eat out. There is no reason to not enjoy this delicious offering right at home! Its so simple to make and you can whip up dinner on the fly in no time when serving up these wonderful sandwiches.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to this sandwich. Mayo or no mayo. Tried and true Tampans say No to the mayo. Citing the fact that these were traditionally carried to the cigar factories for employees to eat on their breaks so the mayo would have spoiled. But we are going to go with the secret sauce because it's amazing!

Cuban sandwiches traditionally start with Cuban bread. Since I cannot source that in my area, I am using a nice Bollio roll that will be soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside after we grill it. You can get authentic Cuban bread by ordering online nowadays. So if you are so inclined, have a look! The rolls are spread on both sides with a sauce of mayo and plain yellow mustard. Or if you are a purest, only lots of yellow mustard. Be sure to go all the way to the edges!

Next the good stuff! Layers of swiss cheese, I am using Havarti, smoked ham (I used black forest), roast pork loin, dill pickles and more cheese are shingled on this delicious roll. If you are making yours "Tampa style", then be sure to add a layer of thinly sliced Genoa salami before you add your pickles.

Now spread the top with a little butter. Add a little butter to your pan and place that bad boy on that grill. Top with the pre heated, press and allow to cook till crispy and not too brown. Yes, I got mine a little brown, but it was oh, so delicious! Get that cheese good and melty so that all the filling gets heated through, just a bit. I flipped my sandwiches so that both sides would get nice and crunchy.

Now all you have left to do is enjoy this crunchy, creamy, salty, tangy, meaty, cheesy sandwich. Serve with homemade, hand cut fries or some plantain or yucca chips or even some Tostones for even more Cuban flair!

The sandwich itself is an homage to the deep culture that enveloped Miami and Tampa during the height of the cigar manufacturing days. The 20s and 30s saw massive growth in this industry. Employing thousands and at one point there were over 100 cigar factories in the area. Now there is only one left in Tampa.

The sandwich is said to represent so many cultures melding together like the melting pot of central Florida. The smoked ham represented the Spaniards, the roast or pulled pork and the traditional cassava bread, representative of the Cubans. The cheese of the Swiss and if enjoying Tampa style, the Genoa salami represented the Italians. The pickles and mustard were attributed to German influence. So you can see. Bringing all this flavor together in one sandwich is not just an amazing idea, it is an amazing blending of cultures all in one delicious bite!

I hope that you consider giving a Cuban sandwich a try sometime soon and I hope you love it! Don't have leftover pork roast? Try some smoked pulled pork from a local BBQ joint. You won't be disappointed!

Happy Eating!

You can find the Rada products I used in this video here:

Stubby Butcher Carving Knife: http://bit.ly/32LhSDs
6" Bread Knife: http://bit.ly/32MoTEi
Party Spreader http://bit.ly/2LytFiH
Spatula http://bit.ly/32JVnih

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