Credit: Hugo Gamino.
Long Live the Cubano Sandwich: A Recipe That’s Always in Style
From buttery Cubano bread to juicy mojo pork that’s been marinating overnight like it has secrets, this sandwich isn’t just a recipe—it’s an experience. Sharp mustard, pickles with attitude, and a hot press finish? Yeah, this Cubano sandwich came to serve.


Cubano Sandwich
From buttery Cubano bread to juicy mojo pork that’s been marinating overnight like it has secrets, this sandwich isn’t just a recipe—it’s an experience. Sharp mustard, pickles with attitude, and a hot press finish? Yeah, this Cubano sandwich came to serve.
Ingredients
Cubano Bread:
- 370 ml water – warm
- 10 g yeast
- 500 g bread flour
- 13 g sugar
- 5 g salt
- 30 g lard
Mojo Pork:
- 5 lb pork shoulder
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 shallots
- 2 oranges – zest
- 3 limes – zest
- 3 oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried
- fresh mint
- ground cumin
- 1 cup olive oil
- 2 serranos – optional, for heat
- salt to taste
- 250 ml lime juice
- 250 ml orange juice
English Mustard Sauce:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp water
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup mustard powder
Quick Pickles:
- pickling cucumbers – sliced
- garlic
- fresh dill
- sugar
- salt
Final Assembly:
- cubano bread
- Mojo pork – shredded
- ham slices
- swiss cheese
- mustard sauce
- pickles
- butter – for pressing
Instructions
Cubano Bread:
- In a bowl, mix warm water with yeast. Let it bloom for 5–10 minutes.
- Add sugar, flour, and salt. Mix until dough forms.
- Knead the dough until smooth (10–12 min by hand or 6–8 min with mixer).
- Add lard and knead until incorporated and dough is elastic.
- Let the dough rise in a greased bowl, covered, for about 1 hour or until doubled.
- Shape into long loaves and let rise again for 45 min.
- Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 20–25 minutes until golden.
Mojo Pork:
- Blend garlic, shallots, zest, oregano, mint, cumin, serranos, lime and orange juices, olive oil, and salt into a marinade.
- Marinate pork shoulder in the mojo overnight (at least 6 hours).
- Roast in oven at 160°C (325°F) for 3–4 hours, or until fork tender.
- Shred and set aside.
English Mustard Sauce:
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
- Adjust seasoning as needed. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Final Assembly:
- Slice the bread open.
- Layer mustard, Swiss cheese, ham, mojo pork, and pickles.
- Butter outside of sandwich.
- Press in a hot sandwich press or grill pan with weight until golden and cheese is melted.