Welcome, friends of our blog. Today at Paulina Cocina, we have a sandwich recipe , and we all know how much we love those mountains of flavor. I'm sure you were a little confused when you saw the title: A Cuban sandwich from Mexico? Just like you read...
There are several versions of its origin, but they all originate in Mexico. That said, let's delve into this tasty and filling recipe.
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Where can we find Cuban cake?
The Cuban torta has become a popular street food staple in Mexico , especially in cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara. It can be found at street food stands and establishments specializing in tortas.
Why is it called Cuban cake?
As with all recipes that don't have a definitive origin, there are several theories and stories about it. The most popular one suggests that the original Cuban cake recipe is so named because it began to be made in a restaurant on Cuba Street near Mexico City's Historic Center.
On the other hand, chef Luis Sordo has his own theory: "The name of Cuban tortas is related to how Mexicans perceive the women of that tropical island—that is, they are large, splendid, and beautiful—and that translates to their palate. Hence, the torta has everything and is very well prepared."
Although there is no precise data on its origin, it is clear that the Cuban torta is part of Mexican gastronomy where sandwiches are called tortas , such is the case of tortas ahogadas .
The story of Fidel Castro and the Cuban cake
Another theory is linked to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro . It seems that during his stay in Mexico, he was a regular customer of the La Casa del Pavo restaurant, which is still operating today. He began to regularly order a sandwich with specific ingredients, which is what we know today as the Cuban torta.
Felipe Mendoza, who has worked at the restaurant for more than 25 years, says: “We have the Cuban sandwich invented by Fidel Castro. He sat at the bar and asked the food vendor on duty to make him a sandwich to his liking, and he told him step by step what to make. He asked him to add turkey breast, ham, and cheese, to grill the bread and fry it briefly. That's how the Cuban sandwich came to be; it was born here.”
What is Cuban cake made of?
The original Cuban torta recipe includes ham, baked leg, pork cheese, fresh cheese, yellow cheese, breaded steak, sausage, beans, egg, avocado, onion, tomato, and jalapeño or chipotle pepper strips, but it can have many more ingredients.
The Cuban torta is characterized by being a large and hearty sandwich . It's constructed by stacking generous layers of ingredients between the bread. Some variations of the Cuban torta may include sauces like red salsa, green salsa, or guacamole to add even more flavor to the sandwich.
Due to the large number of ingredients and their types, the Cuban torta is described as abundant, colossal, bombastic, etc., and also as high in calories. It's a recipe that can be adapted to suit your needs, but the original recipe, as we've already seen, is characterized by its high fat and calorie content.
The special bread of the Cuban cake
Surely, when you see this recipe, you're wondering what telera bread . It's a traditional Mexican bread, especially popular in the central region of the country. It's widely used in making cakes, including Cuban cake.
- Telera bread is characterized by its flat, oval shape. It has a crispy, golden crust, while its interior is soft and spongy.
- The recipe for telera bread varies, but common ingredients include wheat flour, yeast, water, salt, and occasionally a little sugar or fat. Its unique texture and flavor come from the way it is kneaded and baked.
- Telera bread is made through a fermentation and baking process. The dough is kneaded, shaped into an oval, and then left to rise to develop its characteristic flavor and texture. It is then baked until golden brown and well-cooked inside.
- Telera bread is widely used in Mexico for making tortas, sandwiches filled with a variety of ingredients. Its shape and texture make it ideal for holding ingredients and providing a pleasant eating experience.
- Telera bread is easily found in bakeries and grocery stores in Mexico. It can also be found in some specialty Mexican stores in other countries.
Original Cuban cake recipe
This recipe offers a combination of contrasting flavors, such as the sweetness of the ham, the spiciness of the chorizo and jalapeño peppers, and the creaminess of the cheese and avocado. These flavors come together to create a rich and nuanced sandwich.
Cuban torta is usually enjoyed with a refreshing drink, such as soda or agua fresca. Some also accompany it with crispy potato chips or tortilla chips for added crunch.
Yield : 4 portions
Preparation time : 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 loaves of telera or French bread
- 200 g of sliced cooked ham
- 400g roasted pork leg or shredded suckling pig
- 200g of Oaxaca cheese or Swiss cheese, grated or sliced
- 4 frankfurter sausages
- 100g chorizo, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cup of refried beans
- 4 pickled jalapeño peppers, sliced
- 1 white onion, sliced
- Mayonnaise to taste
- Mustard to taste
- Hot sauce (optional)
How to make a Cuban cake
- Cut the telera bread in half lengthwise and spread a layer of refried beans on one half of the bread and a layer of mayonnaise on the other half.
- Place slices of ham on one half of the bread and roast pork leg or shredded suckling pig on the other half.
- Add a layer of Oaxaca or Swiss cheese to both halves of the bread, and the frankfurter and chorizo to one half. Place avocado slices on the other half.
- Add pickled jalapeño peppers and sliced white onion to both halves of the bread. You can add hot sauce to give the sandwich a spicy kick.
- Close the sandwich by pressing both halves together. Optional: Heat the Cuban cake in a pan or griddle to melt the cheese and crisp the bread.
