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Cubanos (Cuban Pork Sandwich)

Unstoppable Foodie

Mojo Pork Cubanos (Cuban Pork Sandwich)

Valarie and I were inspired to make Cubanos after seeing the movie, Chef, which was released in 2014. The movie features Jon Favreau who wrote, directed and acted in the movie about a chef who has a falling out with the owner of an LA restaurant and restarts his career from a food truck called El Jefe (The Boss) while driving it from Miami to California. The food and music in the movie is memorable, but the real star of the movie is the Cubano or Mojo Pork Sandwich. The meaning of Mojo is “sauce.” 

The sandwich for the movie was developed by Chef Roy Choi who was also the movie’s food consultant. Chef Roy is a Korean American chef who gained prominence as the creator of the gourmet Korean Taco truck, Kogi. He is known as one of the founders of the gourmet food truck movement.

Food historians trace the Cubano, a Cuban pressed sandwich, to Miami and Tampa in the mid- 1880’s when the cigar manufacturing shifted to Tampa. Since Tampa also had a large Italian community, the Cubano served in the Tampa area can also be found to have salami on it.

The movie version of the Mojo Pork Cubano features thinly sliced ham and mojo-marinated pork shoulder. The key to this sandwich is quality ingredients. The pork shoulder should be marinated overnight for maximum flavor.

The flavors in this sandwich will most likely inspire you to start your own food truck business. If you do not feel as inspired as we did, just cook this recipe for your family or friends for a real culinary adventure in taste. The saltiness of the ham with the sweetness of the marinated pork smothered in the Swiss cheese complimented by the mustard and pickles all on the fresh baguette will make you taste buds do their happy dance.

 

                

Hope you enjoy this Cubano as much as Valarie and I enjoyed it. We made it twice, before inserting it into our line-up for our Food Enthusiast Supper Club on February 2, 2018, which featured Cuban recipes. Our fellow food enthusiasts, Ray and Patty Petts enjoyed the Cubanos as much as us. We hope you this perennial favorite.

Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.

Dale

Mojo Pork Cubanos Recipe

Mojo Pork Cubanos (Cuban Pork Sandwich) Valarie and I were inspired to make Cubanos after seeing the movie, Chef, which was released… sandwich Cubanos (Cuban Pork Sandwich) European Print This
Serves: 3-4 Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • Cubano
  • 6 ounces of thinly sliced ham
  • Softened butter for brushing
  • 6 – six inch long soft baguettes or heros, split lengthwise
  • Yellow mustard for brushing
  • ½ lb. thinly sliced Swiss cheese
  • 3 half-sour dill pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • ¾ lb. thinly sliced Mojo- marinated pork shoulder, or store bought roast pork (See below)
  • Instructions:
  • Heat Panini press over medium
  • Butter cut sides of baguette.
  • Place ham, pork, swiss cheese and pickles on bottom of the buns. Generously butter outside of roll, place in Panini press.
  • Cook until bread has browned and cheese has melted.
  • Let sandwich cool down for at least one minute before cutting.
  • Mojo-marinated pork shoulder
  • 3-4 pounds of boneless pork shoulder
  • ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup of cilantro
  • 8 garlic cloves
  • Mint, lightly packed leaves
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • ½ cup of lime juice, fresh
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 2 tsp cumin, ground
  • ¾ cup of orange juice

Instructions

In stainless steel mixing bowl, combine ingredients and whisk together to make mojo marinade.

Place pork shoulder in large Ziploc bag and pour over mojo marinade.

Refrigerate overnight, minimum 12 hours.

Preheat oven to 425F. Reduce temp to 375F.

Transfer pork shoulder to a flat surface and discard marinade. Roll pork shoulder and tie together with string.

Roast pork for 30 minutes at 375F. Roast for another approximate 1 ½ hour or until the center of the pork should registers 160F with a meat thermometer.

Transfer to carving board. Remove string. Cut into ¾ lb strips for sandwich.