Cuban Press

1. 1

   Preheat sandwich press (see note below if you do not have a sandwich press).

2. 2

   Cut bread loaf into 6-inch long pieces. Spread cut sides of bread with butter if desired, or mustard, or both.

3. 3

   On the bottom slices of bread, layer sandwiches with generous portions of pickles, pork, ham, and cheese, in that order.

4. 4

   Place top bread slices on sandwiches, and coat both top and bottom bread slices (outer surfaces) with vegetable cooking spray.

5. 5

   Grill the sandwich for 4 to 5 minutes (2 to 3 minutes per side if using skillet and an iron pan for weight), or until bread is golden brown, cheese is melted, and sandwich is flattened.

6. 6

   Cut each sandwich on the diagonal and serve with plantain chips.

7. 7

   NOTE: Home cooks often have to improvise as many don't own sandwich presses. A waffle iron, panini grill, George Foreman grill, or bacon press will work. People have been known to cook the sandwich in a skillet and press it with a heated cast-iron frying pan or even a heated brick wrapped in aluminum foil.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.