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You knew I was making a ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต, Miami style this week! If you watched my Cuban bread video (https://youtu.be/u9auEJQYfgc). I have to say Miami style because there seems to be a lot of controversy about the Cuban sandwich's origin. Many, including Wikipedia, will tell you that Tampa invented the Cuban sandwich, and by an Italian merchant, of all things! Well, I don't know about you, but I have had my share of less than accurate articles on Wikipedia. Ernesto "Che" Guevara is one. How a person who was a racist, homophobic killer ended up being a hero for the left is truly mind bugling!
Nevertheless, records show that restaurant menus from the Tampa Bay area going back 100+ years offered the traditional and el Cubano Especial โ A Cuban sandwich with extra meat. I am going to sound as bais as CNN here when I say that I am sorry, but the Tampa Cuban sandwich just does not stack up to what you find in Miami. I mean, I am from the 305 and everything, but know that I have had my share of Cuban food in the Tampa area. Even before moving to Southwest Florida, I will frequently go fishing to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and stay on St. Pete's beach. Where Tampa lost me is with the Cuban sandwich ingredients. I mean "salami," for real? What does a cut of Italian delicates doing in my Cuban? Now, this is not a hating session on Tampa's Cuban food scene. I have had a lot of good food in Hillsborough County. Some of my favorite Cuban dishes from the area include Vaca Frita and Igado a la Italian, something that, in my opinion, very few people know how to prepare correctly!
With that said, the Cuban Sandwich is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest sandwiches, and in this video, I will show how easy it is to make an ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต at home. And not only that, but I will guarantee you that if you make the Cuban sandwich my way and with real Cuban Bread, even the guys from Tampa will tell, it is missing salami, but it is really good! The trick of making a delicious Cuban sandwich is sticking to not only South Florida's tradition but also the ingredients and the technical aspect of it. The Cuban sandwich is a pressed sandwich. If you a press awesome, even if it is a panini press. Some people may look at you funny as ask, what are the zebra stripes on your sandwich but it ok. I used what I call the Redneck Cuban Sandwich press. Not one I invented but something a buddy of mine, back in the Florida Keys, used.
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In my opinion, to make an authentic Cubano sandwich, you only need seven ingredients!
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ โ Many people are ok with using Puerto Rican Bread. I am not, and if you don't access to Cuban Bread, check out the video did on it!
๐๐๐ฒ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ โ These are most haves, and many choose to apply them separately. Maintaining the correct ratio is imperative, so pre-mix it at a ratio of 1 part mayo, 2 parts mustard.
๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฌ โ Another most have! It is not a Cuban sandwich without the pickles! I am also picky about that. I think that the dill type (green center) are better than the kosher ones (white center)
๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐ฆ โ Few foods are more Spanish than ham, and this digs a few holes in the theory of the Cuban sandwich was invented in Tampa! Serrano Ham ended up in Cuban as a result of colonization. Not popular in Tampa but readily available everywhere in Miami. Simply walk up to the Publix deli as ask for it by name! For those of you who live outside of Miami, like me. This may be a task since, according to the internet, there is no substitution for Serrano Ham! I didn't find any and ended up using a cured black forest ham. Major sin, I know!
๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค โ Last but not least is porked. Freshly roasted Cuban-style pork is truly the best and what I more often than not use. However, for this video, I ended up using some form Winn Dixie's deli. It was ok, but it lacked a lot of taste! I think that the pork and the ham throw off the taste profile as everyone who tasted the sandwiches made for this particular notice that my typical taste profile was just not there. I should have thrown it on a skillet with a little bit of butter, some garlic, and a hint of lemon. Nevertheless, this is not a Pan con Lechon, so that prominent MOJO taste is not what we are seeking.
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Here is how you make a Cuban sandwich. Cut a piece of Cuban bread about 10-12 inches long. If you are using the Redneck Cuban Sandwich press, cut it as long are your brick! Slice it in half, mix your aioli, and spread both faces of the bread liberally. Add a row of pickles to the top face of the bread. That is something I didn't show in the video but trust me. It is there! Stack about 1/3 of a pound between the two pieces of bread. Followed by a layer of ham, then layers of pork, and another layer of ham! Put your two parts together and press for about 3 minutes per side in a well-buttered skilled or press.
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