Fake Ginger

Cuban Sandwich (plus a cookbook giveaway!)

Happy Wednesday! 

I’m pretty excited because I have a giveaway today! I’ve been trying to give away a cookbook every month – like, you know, a cookbook that came out that month. It was going to be my thing this year. But then the book I bought for March was kind of a dud. I still haven’t made anything from it.

And then I ordered the Whole 30 cookbook for April and just got distracted with the move and then being so sick. That one’s awesome though. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to eat healthier. 

Now I’m back on track and I have a really great book this month!

It’s Pure Pork Awesomeness by Kevin Gillespie and it really is all pork and all awesomeness. 

I pre-ordered this one months ago because I loooove Kevin Gillespie. He’s probably my favorite Top Chef contestant of all time – mostly because everything he does involves pork!

There are so many delicious looking recipes in this book. I made Tacos al Pastor for Taco Tuesday last week and they were so delicious. My kids don’t like tacos (clearly there was a mix up in the hospital – 3 times) but they wolfed those down. 

And then last night I made these Cuban Sandwiches. I’ve never actually had a Cuban Sandwich but between his cilantro mayo and the slow-cooked pork, I was sold. 

These were probably the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Ever. In my entire life.

I already mentioned the mayo and the pork – there’s also two kinds of cheese, pickles, ham, and rich, delicious bread. 

I’m pretty sad that we have no leftovers. 

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of the book! And good luck!

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Print
Cuban Sandwich (plus a cookbook giveaway!)
from Pure Pork Awesomeness by Kevin Gillespie
Ingredients
For the Slow-Cooked Pork Barbacoa:
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 5 pound bone-in pork shoulder
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 10 cloves garlic peeled
  • 3 dried bay leaves
For the Cuban Sandwich:
  • 1 1/4 cups mayo
  • juice of 1 large orange
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 5 gloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 4 Cuban-style sandwich loaves or 1 loaf brioche or challah, cut into slices
  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
  • 1 cup grated Gouda cheese
  • 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
  • 4 ounces thick-sliced deli ham
  • dill pickle slices preferably flat, thinly sliced
Instructions
To make the Slow-Cooked Pork Barbacoa:
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. In a small bowl, combine salt, chili powder, cinnamon, and cloves. Pat the pork dry and generously season all over with the salt mixture. Cut a large piece (about 24 inches) of heavy-duty foil and place in a roasting pan. Add the roast, onion, garlic, and bay leaves and wrap everything up tightly in the foil. Roast for 3 1/2 hours.
  3. Remove from over and let rest, wrapped in foil, for 30 minutes. Discard the onion, garlic, and bay leaves before shredding the meat.
To make the Cuban Sandwiches:
  1. In a blender, combine the mayo, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon lime juice, garlic, cumin, and salt and blend until smooth. Add the cilantro and blend until smooth and creamy.
  2. The order of assembly is important here! Spread the bottom slice of bread with mustard and sprinkle with the Gouda. Build the rest of the sandwich on the top slice of bread, starting with the Gruyere, following by a slice of ham and the Barbacoa. Place a liberal layer of pickles over the pork, and top that with a full-on slathering of the cilantro mayo. Flip the bottom up onto the top and press down firmly to compact.
  3. Cook the sandwich grilled cheese-style on low heat until the bread is browned and the cheese is melted.

Both copies of the book were purchased by me. Some links are affiliate links.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Jeanne says

    I don’t even really like pork but this sounds fantastic !
    Love reading what you have to say daily – you definitely brighten my day !
    Welcome to Texas !

    Reply

  8. heather | girlichef says

    I love Cubans SO much, and I’ve been craving them for a while now…this only makes it worse! I love to eat pork in pretty much every way, but good carnitas are probably my favorite.

    Reply

  24. Annette says

    I love pork, but haven’t been very successful in cooking it. The only pork recipe I’ve made that I loved was pulled pork. I used it for sandwiches and tacos. I love pork roast, but will only order it when at a restaurant. I so want to have some good pork recipes, so I can cook more of it at home.

    Reply

  25. Deanna McK says

    I tried leaving a comment to enter the contest but I don’t think it worked…. anyway, that sandwich looks wonderful … I love how brown and “crusty” the bread looks. I love pork any way it’s cooked but especially love grilled pork chops! Now, send me that cookbook….lolol

    Reply

  26. Lora @cakeduchess says

    I’m surrounded by Cuban places here in S. Fl and luckily can get a good Cuban sandwich whenever hit with a craving. Now I’m seriously craving yours because it looks fantastic, Amanda!

    Reply

  27. Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says

    What a great giveaway! I love pork and my husband is even crazier about it! Also cuban sandwiches are one of my favorites – I always used to get them at this little sandwich shop by our home before we moved. Now I’ll have to make this one since I’ve been missing them! These look even better!

    Reply

  34. Julie | This Gal Cooks says

    When I do pork in anything but a smoker or grill, it has to be full of flavor, like carnitas or the pork in this recipe. The flavors sound amazing and the sandwich looks great. Definitely something we would love at my house. :)

    Reply

  35. Kim Beaulieu says

    Gah, how do I not have this cookbook? Omg, so wrong. I need, I want it, I must have it. I can’t wait to try this. And the tacos. All the things. Now.

    Reply

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