Best Cuban Inspired Sandwich Dip Recipes

THE ULTIMATE CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Begin by braising the pork shoulder. Tie the shoulder in 4 places with kitchen twine so it will hold its shape while being cooked or ask your butcher to do this for you. Season the pork with salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. Set the base of a pressure cooker over low-medium heat and add a 2 count of olive oil.
• Add garlic and chili flakes and as the oil heats up it will become fragrant and infuse the oil. Add the pork. Add onions around the pork and brown slightly before adding orange juice, lime juice, stock and bay leaves.
• Secure the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size of your pressure cooker. The pork should be tender when done. When done allow to cool in juices before removing twine and slicing.
• To prepare Cuban sandwiches, split bread in half then layer the sandwich with mustard, cheese, pickles, ham, pork then cheese again (the cheese glues everything together). Season with salt and pepper in between the ham and pork layers. (Optional: drizzle a little of the pork braising liquid over the meat as well).
• To cook, heat a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat and lightly coat with olive oil. Place the sandwiches on the skillet and top with another heavy skillet and a couple of heavy weights (bricks, or cans of tomatoes work well). Press down firmly and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until the sandwich has compressed to about a third of its original size and the bread is super-crispy. Serve with beans, rice and plantain chips.

CUBAN-INSPIRED SANDWICH DIP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Add cream cheese and Swiss cheese to a large bowl. Blend well using an electric mixer. Add mayonnaise and mustard and mix until smooth. Stir in ham, pork, salami, and diced dill pickles until well combined. Spoon mixture into an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle remaining 3 tablespoons Swiss cheese over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven's broiler. Broil the dip until the top is nicely browned and bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes. Watch closely, so it doesn't burn.
• Slice the bread in 1/2-inch-thick slices to use as dippers. Serve with the hot dip.

ORIGINAL CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut Cuban bread to desired size, common size is 7 inches. Next, slice open the bread down the middle. On the topside of the bread spread 1-ounce of mustard, evenly across. Then place 4 pickles on top of the mustard. You then place 1 slice of Swiss cheese on top of the pickles. Slice ham to desired thickness, recommended size is 1 1/2 ounces per slice, the thinner the better. Now fold each slice of ham in half and place evenly on bottom of bread. On top of the ham, place slices of roast pork, 1 1/2 ounces per slice. You then join both halves of the sandwich. You are now ready to grill your Cuban sandwich.
• Use a sandwich grill if you have one, a waffle iron if not. Spread butter on top of the bread evenly. Close the grill, smashing the sandwich. Leave sandwich in the grill until top of bread turns to a golden brown, and top is crisp. Approximate time is 4 to 6 minutes. After the sandwich is crispy and the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich carefully and slice it diagonally, from corner to corner. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN!

PULL-APART CUBAN SLIDERS

Steps:

• Mix the butter and oregano together in a small bowl until combined.
• Split the attached dinner rolls in half horizontally with a serrated knife, keeping the rolls in each half attached. Set the top half aside. Transfer the bottom half, cut-side down, to a cutting board; spread half of the oregano butter over the top and transfer to a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, butter-side down (cut-side up).
• Stack the sliced cheese and cut into four equal stacks. Arrange the cheese slices evenly over the roll bottoms in the skillet (the cheese can overlap).
• Stack the sliced ham and cut into four equal stacks. Arrange the ham slices evenly over the cheese (the ham can also overlap). Scatter the shredded pork evenly over the top.
• Heat another 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Stir the pickles and mustard together in a small bowl and spread on the cut-side of the reserved top half of the rolls, then place it, cut-side down, on the shredded pork to close the sandwich. Spread the remaining oregano butter over the roll tops.
• Set the skillet with the sandwich over medium-low heat. Carefully place the hot cast-iron skillet directly on top of the sandwich to press and toast the roll tops. Cook until the cheese is melted and the rolls are toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the avocado, cilantro, orange juice and lime juice in a medium bowl. Mash and combine with a fork. Season with salt and pepper.
• Carefully remove the top skillet and use 2 large spatulas to transfer the sandwich to a serving platter. Serve whole with avocado dip and plantain chips, letting guests pull apart their own sliders.

MIAMI CUBAN DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place bread on baking sheet. Cut an oval on top of bread and remove bread center to make room for the dip. Tear removed bread top and bread center into bite-size pieces. Set aside for serving.
• Whisk milk gradually into gravy mix in medium saucepan. Stirring frequently, cook over medium heat until gravy comes to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the cheese, 4 tablespoons of the pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Stir in pork and ham.
• Spoon dip into bread. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
• Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread is warm. Sprinkle dip with remaining 1 tablespoon chopped pickles. Serve with bread pieces.