A Cuban sandwich served by Jon Favreau on his food truck, El Jefe in the movie Chef. I was craving for this sandwich as I watched this movie driving back to Saint Louis from my weekend in Kansas City. The recipe was developed by chef Roy Choi in Los Angeles. This delicious sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on a hoagie bread that is pressed.
I made this for myself, but I also invited many of my friends to enjoy some too.
A. Mojo – Marinated Pork Shoulder
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup lightly packed cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup lightly packed mint leaves, finely chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Kosher salt
Pepper
3 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, in one piece
Instructions
1 In a bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except salt, pepper and the pork. Whisk in 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Transfer the marinade to a large resealable plastic bag and add the pork. Seal the bag and turn to coat; set in a baking dish and refrigerate overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 425° and set a rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the pork to a work surface; discard the marinade. Fold the pork under itself, into thirds if necessary, and tie with string to form a neat roll. Season all over with salt and pepper and set it on the rack.
3. Roast the pork for 30 minutes, until lightly browned. Reduce the oven temperature to 375° and roast for 1 hour and 30 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 160°; transfer to a carving board and let rest for 30 minutes. Discard the string before slicing across the grain.
B. Sandwich
INGREDIENTS
6 ounces thinly sliced boiled ham
Softened butter, for brushing
Six 6-inch-long soft baguettes or heros, split lengthwise
Yellow mustard, for brushing
3/4 pound thinly sliced Mojo-Marinated Pork Shoulder, or store-bought roast pork
1/2 pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese
3 half-sour dill pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise
Instructions
1. Heat a large cast-iron griddle or panini press. Add the ham slices to the griddle and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until browned in spots, about 1 minute. Transfer the ham to a plate.
2. Generously butter the cut sides of each baguette and toast on the griddle over moderate heat until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the baguettes to a work surface and generously brush the cut sides with mustard. Layer the ham, pork, Swiss cheese and pickles on the baguette and close the sandwiches.
3. Generously brush the out-side of the sandwiches with butter and set them on the griddle or press; if using a griddle, top the sandwiches with a large baking sheet and weigh it down with heavy cans or a cast-iron skillet. Cook the sandwiches over moderate heat until they’re browned and crisp on the outside and the cheese is melted, 3 minutes per side on a griddle or 3 minutes total in a press. Cut the cubanos in half and serve hot.
Adaptation: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mojo-pork-cubanos