Ruskin Recipes

A Real Cuban Sandwich

made with

Fresh warm Cuban bread, Pan Sobao or soft French bread

Split  the whole loaf in half lengthwise leaving a "hinge" if possible

Spread with 1/3  cup of yellow mustard (mayo omitted in Miami and Cuba)

Spread on the top only

Layer on the bottom half in this order

4 slices or 2 layers of thinly sliced baked ham

4 long slices of pork roast

Lay 4 slices of  thinly sliced Cotto Salami, overlapping by almost half (omitted in Miami and Cuba)

Lay 4 slices of Swiss cheese cut in half the same way and don't skimp

Add a layer of sliced dill pickles (sandwich stackers)

Close up and press down

Put a cast iron skillet on low

Spray lightly with a non stick spray

(most of us don't  have a well seasoned cast iron pan)

Lay half the sandwich in the skillet and press down

with a bacon press till the cheese starts to melt.

I use my George Foreman grill for about 1 1/2 minutes
I like to add some big juicy sliced Ruskin tomatoes

and very thinly sliced sweet onion rings on top of the pickles.

But that's Ruskin

Extras:

You put the salami on top of the other meats because,

 it's juices then run down on the lower meats. 

 If you don't like Swiss use provolone. 

No yellow cheese.

And please no boiled ham.

Cooking Tips:

Pork Roast

Marinate your pork shoulder in a product from Goya called Mojo Marinate with orange and lime juices, oregano and garlic..  Recipe below. Read the ingredients.  It's a tall glass bottle.  Put 2 cups in a gallon Ziploc bag and marinate your pork overnight.

Remove the roast and make 1 1/2 inch slits in the top and pour fresh marinade all over and stick a garlic clove in each slit.  Cook in a crock pot till tender. Baste a few times. Slice

Brown Sugar Ham:

When cooking your ham give it a nice heavy crispy brown sugar glaze so some of the sugar crust is on the slices.  You could serve the ham the first night and make the pork roast the next. Great leftovers. I use brown sugar and just enough honey to stick it together and pat all over the ham.

but I want it now!

Caramel Flan, Avocado and my Cuban

at your local supermarket..

Shopping List

One 12 - 14 inch fresh Italian bread, or Pan Sobao (Sweet Bread) pictured here from Miami

I had the deli clerk set the slicer to No. 2

4 long slices of Cuban Pork Roast

2 very large thin slices of ham, folded in half

5 slices of  Cotto salami,with peppercorns, there is a difference.

4 slices swiss cheese, cut in half

4 Valasic dill sandwich stackers

Lots of mustard

opt.

mayo - if you like a mixture it's 1/2 cup mayo and 1/3 cup mustard

onion - 4 thin slices

tomato - 4 thin slices

No Mojo Pork available ?

Buy sliced pork and in the deli baggie put

2 Tablespoons of Goya's Marinade.

These pressed sandwiches travel really well.  They can be cut

into 2 inch slices or larger. 

Since their pressed they stay together well.  Enjoy

Mojo Pork Roast Marinate

1 head of garlic
1 teas. cracked black pepper
1 teas. salt
1 - 2 teas. oregano (spanish)
Mash very well
Add 1 cup of diced sweet onion
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
 some add a little oil
to help the juices stick to the meat.
Add add moisture.

French Toast

Cuban Sweet bread is heavenly

and makes the best french toast or bread pudding.

  As of this posting can be found at the Winn Dixie in Sun City Center.  Two short loaves per bag.