A Recipe A Day- Cuban Midnight Sandwich

Sounds and looks great!

I would have to leave out the ham since I'm not a fan, use unsmoked turkey, and would use a spot of canola oil rather than olive oil or butter. I would definitely agree to leave out the mayo! Can't stand hot mayo. My favorite pickles are cured without vinegar and I'd serve one on the side. Not sure I'd like the mustard with this either, so not exactly sure what I'd use for moisture. Any suggestions?

If you ever get to the Orlando airport go the the lobby of the Hyatt. McCoy's Bar and Grill has the most fantastic Cubano I've ever had. Their mojo sauce is outstanding.

It's been part of my routine every January for the past five years.

Seeing how I'm always eating at midnight or later, this is a sammie for me! I can skip the ton of mayo and Italian dressing, but I'll use spicy brown mustard. Smoked meat is good. I might even grill the meat a little before I assemble the sammie seeing how I'm going to grill the whole thing and dirty the pan anyway. Butter over oil for me, too. Add the pickle...skip the sides. A couple of these and a handful of chips and that's good enough for me.

Wonderful! Can't wait to find a place in Seattle that makes these :)

had one of these in florida once....great!!

Thanks for the comments and feedback.

Do you like any kind of salad dressing, Sue? Maybe drizzle with your fave before serving? Or dunk it au jus style.

Ted, we may just do that. We plan to visit the MIL one of these days, and would be flying in to Orlando.

That sounds delicious. But with 1 cup mayo? That's alot.

Hey, Shannon, you're going to be in my neck of the woods? Stop by and we can cook up some lunch!

Seriously, I love a great Cuban sandwich but I like your smoked turkey version. I actually mayo on the outside of the sandwich because I love the flavor and crisp-ness it gives the bread.

I wonder what our resident Cuban foodie thinks of all the mayo and the Italian dressing. Sonia, are you looking?

Julie, how close are you to Ocala? That is where Matt's mother lives. I could come and visit you and Matt can go see mom. HA!

Thanks for the comments and feedback!

The resident Cuban foodie says this is definitely NOT a Medianoche Sandwich... regardless of the fact that it seems the contributor of the recipe at allrecipes.com has a "Hispanic" sounding name. the sandwich itself as written in that site might be very good, but it is definitely NOT a Medianoche Sandwich.

To begin with, Medianoche Sandwiches are made with a semi-sweet egg style bread - something similar to a Jewish Challah or even Portuguese or Hawaiian Sweet bread. The regular CUBAN sandwich is made with a slab of Cuban bread or in cases where Cuban bread is not available then French or Italian or a hoagie might be acceptable.....but back to the Medianoche Sandwich....which has the same ingredients as a CUBAN Sandwich except for the bread, which as I explained before, is a semi-sweet egg type bread.

* Neither the Medianoche or Cuban Sandwich use mayo of any kind - only butter
* Neither the Medianoche or Cuban Sandwich use Italian or any other type of dressing except for a mojo (moe-hoe) marinade on the pork.
* Neither the Medianoche or Cuban Sandwich call for turkey meat of any kind
* A Medianoche or a Cuban Sandwich HAVE to contain ham and roasted pork - not turkey.

The Medianoche Sandwich was conceived as a smaller and less filling snack version of the Cuban Sandwich, and it was intended to be eaten at a cafe or bar on your way home after a dance or theater....around midnight.....it was large enough to just quiet the hunger pains before going home to bed.

Here is the real and original version of the Medianoche Sandwich:
The slightly sweet egg bread - shaped like a small hoagie - we call them 'pan de bocaditos' which means bread of little bites (or small piece of bread)
Butter (NEVER mayo)
Mustard is optional and not de rigour
Sliced or shredded roasted pork - a MUST
Thinly sliced sweet ham - a MUST
Thinly sliced Swiss cheese - a MUST
Kosher type pickle, sliced - a MUST
Sprinkles of Cuban Mojo Sauce (if the pork was not marinated with it to begin with, but a bit extra is always in good taste ;-)

Butter the outside of the bread when the sandwich is assembled and cook in a "plancha" - a grill press similar to a panini press and if you don't have one, use a cast iron skillet and weight the sandwich down with a bacon press or something heavy. It is ready when the cheese is soft and not completely melted.

I think I'm probably an hour away from Ocala. I've actually never been there so I'm not sure... I'm just about ten minutes from Disney.

Sonia, that sounds fantastic!

The authentic Cubano is far preferable, Sonia. No question about it!

That sounds right, Julie. Matt's mom is not that far from Disney.

I order Cuban sandwiches often in Florida. I've never had one come with mayo or italian dressing...always yellow mustard. I love them!

I like mine with both mayo and mustard. NEVER Italian dressing!

I do like the pork version better but both sound great.

Sounds good. Thanks for sharing.

Shannon, this recipe is far from authentic - the Cubans do NOT put mayonnaise on a Cubano, also they do not use turkey - there are 2 meats - ham and roast pork. There is swiss cheese and mustard, and you don't have to use an expensive press - a George Foreman grill works very well as does a heavy pan placed on top of the sandwich in any good skillet. I've done it both ways. Also the bread is essential - it must be Cuban Bread - I know it is difficult to find for many people so I've used an Italian loaf. A hoagie roll is a good substitute though.

I would definitely omit the mayonnaise and use only ham and roast pork. Both can be found easily. If you want to be authentic, as I usually do (I'm picky and quite a foodie) I would make my own Cuban Roast Pork and use mustard and swiss cheese. Just me though.

Yummy, thank you for sharing this.

Thanks, all!

on my lunch break, i always tune in to daisy martinez (she is the cutest thing!) to see whats cooking. she just happen to prepare cubanos today. she used mayo on her roll with swiss, ham and leftover roast pork. she added the pickles, wrapped it in foil and set it in the oven. she also used something heavy to weigh hers down. after about 30 minutes it was done. it was the best looking sandwich! thats the fun thing about food. NOT having to be original and adding your own flair.

we're definitely making these.

Just because something is not strictly "authentic" doesn't mean it can't be good! Go Daisy!

And did I mention how proud of you I am for tuning in to a cooking show?

I just had to check out her blog. And yup, that sure is mayo on that Cubano.

Sounds good thanks for sharing..

hey Shan-Shan your sister is turning into a regular Julia Childs.

don't like mayo on a sandwich, but this sounds really delish.

I have never even heard of it before, but boy would I like to have a sandwich. I've already put sandwich stuff on our grocery list for Friday. I'm thinking we might go to Firehouse Subs to eat Friday night too. Mmmmm.

I'm really wanting a pickle now.

Thank you for posting this to Gather Recipe Review!

Yeah Mama Cee, we can call her Julia "Honey-Chile".

I have made mine with leftover roast pork, Vic. Best way to use it up!

Thanks, Sandra.

I just want a sammich....
toasted bread with butter will do me too.....
jeesh I am hungry

I crave that every once in a while, Lou Anne. Just toast and butter and nothing else.

"....Julia 'Honey-Chile'...."


LOL!

sounds good

Glad you came back and saw that, L.

Thanks, J.

SOUNDS DELICOUS