The perfect party appetizer combining a Tampa Cuban Sandwich with a fancy crostini toast point. Drizzled with a mustard aioli!
I had never had a Cuban until my husband took me for one after we first met. Jason, a fourth generation Florida boy [from Tampa] loves hole in the wall Cuban spots where we can enjoy the real deal, authentic Cuban cuisine. Today’s recipe pays just as much homage to the Cuban Sandwich, as it does to my mister, my Florida boy, who grew up in the city, but whose roots are deep in the ‘country’. Truly, I love living in Tampa Bay, ya’ll <—– I had to.
As much as I personally love a good Cuban, I am not going to try and re-create a dish that has already been perfected by the pros; instead I’m making it a fun party bite that anyone can create and wow their guests with! Because, seriously have you ever had flavorful mojo pork shredded in all kinds of yummy goodness topped on toasty crostini with a mustard aioli? Uh-yea, me either.
The basis for any good Cuban sammie, in my opinion, is a slow roasted mojo pork, and Cuban bread duh. We’ll shred it and add other yummy ingredients to a toasted crostini; usually crostini is sliced from a French baguette, but you cannot have a Cuban inspired sammie without the bread!
Then to fancy it up, we’ll make a super easy mustard aioli for added flavor. I’m sharing this recipe in three parts below; pork, ailoi, crostini. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did at our Casa!
Cuban Sandwich Crostini
Ingredients
cuban pork
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 10 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano spice
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 3 lbs pork shoulder, bone in - also called picnic pork or pork shoulder
mustard ailoi
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons stone ground mustard
crostini
- 1 loaf Cuban bread, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 3/4 cup olive oil, or butter at room temperature
- 15 slices swiss cheese, halved - 1/2 slice per crostini
- 1/2 lb deli ham - should have approx 30 thin slices
- 30 dill pickle slices - “chip” style
Instructions
cuban pork
- Place all ingredients except pork into a blender and blend on high to make a marinade. Pour marinade in a large plastic ziploc, or container.
- Pierce the pork on all sides with a pairing knife. Add pork to the container and seal. Marinate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours, in refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting. Season the pork with salt and pepper and cook for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and continue roasting for 60 minutes, basting with the marinade during the last 30 minutes of roasting until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reaches 150 degrees F. Remove from the oven, baste with any remaining glaze, tent loosely and let rest 15 minutes before shredding with two forks. Once cooled, shred with two forks and set aside. Discard bone and excess fat.
mustard aioli
- Add the Dijon mustard, egg yolk, and lemon juice to a mixing bowl and whisk together until smooth.
- Slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture, whisking small amounts of it in at a time until it is completely incorporated. Whisk vigorously until mixture is thick and creamy. Add the stone ground mustard. Set aside.
Crostini
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spread out the sliced bread in a single layer on a baking sheet [may need 2 baking sheets].
- Spread a small amount of butter, or olive oil on each slice. Top each slice with 1/2 a slice of Swiss cheese.
- Bake bread and cheese for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges of the bread are lightly browned. Remove and allow to cool.
- Spread about 1/4 – 1/2 of a teaspoon mustard aioli on the top of the melted cheese. Top with piece of sliced ham [I rolled my in half]. Follow with a piece of Cuban pork. Place a single pickle slice on each crostini and serve!
S
Love Cubans, this sounds great for a party!
These look so good!
Those look so good!! I wish I was a better cook.
I always forget about Cubans. Why?? They look so good! Thanks for the reminder.
These little bites of goodness sound perfect! What a creative idea…
I’m totally with you on this one–party bites are the BEST! These mini sammies make me ten times more excited than the standard version. Thanks for sharing!
These are adorable and look super delish. I’m pretty sure I would eat half of them without realizing it.
I love your spin on the Cuban. This would be a perfect game day appetizer!
Oh my Lord – this looks AMAZING! My husband would totally die over these! Can’t wait to give them a try. Thanks for sharing!
Not only do these look good but they’re so cute! Sad to admit, but I’ve never had a Tampa Cuban…only a Miami one :p
Nichole, I don’t recall ever having a Cuban Sandwich. I know I would like one though, and your looks fantastic! I must try!
WOW those look amazing!!! I want NOW! 🙂 I am going to make them for superbowl! Thank you!
OMG I love a good Cuban so I’m looking forward to serving this at a party hopefully soon!
I am drooling over here, these look so good!
They are soooo good. I promise!
These look ah-ma-zing!!!
I want these now!
They may not go well with your Cioppino, but I say we have a lil’ party with both our dishes! Cheers, friend!
These are gorgeous! I must make these for my Cali friends on my next visit home.
You had me at Cuban! LOVE making different kind of sandwiches, I’m putting this on my MUST MAKE list!
Sandwiches are my fave of all time! I am on a crostini kick, lately 🙂
I love the mustard Aoili on these! Yum!
I love how easy it was to make that aioli! I think I may try it next on a burger 😉
OH.MY.GOD! This is GENIUS! Cuban Sandwiches are my favorite. I crave them and these are the perfect! All the flavor of a Cuban Sandwich, but a bite-size portion. Perfection and perfectly pinnable. Great job!
I guessed your hometown as Miami – close but not. I love Cuban sandwiches too, and I LOVE your appetizer riff! Saving this for sure!
There is actually great debate over who made the Cuban; Tampa or Miami. I don’t know who came first, but I love em’ just the same!
Hole in the wall Cuban spots are great. There’s one in Boca my grandmother introduced me to. Although I obviously don’t eat Cuban sandwiches, your crostini looks great – what a fab idea!
Thanks, Shaina! I’ll be honest the toasted Cuban bread with just the Swiss was pretty tasty sans meat 😉
A great hometown classic. Thanks
I just drooled all over the place! These are perfect! I don’t care for all of the bread and am all about the filling! Pinned and happening!
Thanks so much, Gwen! I love a good Cuban, but am with you on the bread, that’s a big reason why I love this bite so much! I hope you enjoy!
We have one Cuban restaurant in my town called Havana and I love it. I bet these crostini are delicious.
Thanks, Marlene!
I love Cuban sandwiches. I think I had my first in Bogota. It was oh so tasty. It’s the pork I can’t quite get right, but with your recipe, you can be sure I’ll be trying it again. YUM!
How cute are these little guys? I <3 Cuban sandwiches!! I could put quite few of these away LOL
I first had a Cuban at Universal Studios in Florida and I fell in love with it, Oh does this take me back to that trip! I love this!!! I see this going on my shopping list today!
These would be so great for a party! Fun twist on your hometown classic!
Whoa, I love your Cuban crostinis! Layer upon layer of deliciousness!!!
I love your app version of a Cuban sandwich. I just can’t figure out how you had the discipline not to eat all of the roasted pork before it made it to the crostinis!
I love your crostini! All the great flavors in a crunchy bite. This is perfect for parties…and just about any day. lol Yum!
Um…maybe even good for breakfast? I had leftovers this morning 😉
I’m not a Cuban sandwich fan (not a fan of pickles or mustard) but these are adorable!
Hahaa, the pickles and mustard make this dish, but the pork is super tasty 🙂 Thanks for hosting today!
I love Cuban sandwiches! These look like a real treat.
Thanks, Katie!
LOVE this! Such a great idea to make the Cuban into bite-sized sandwiches. I’m making these for my next gathering!
Yay! I hope you love them Lisa
I’ll take the whole platter, please and thank you!
Your description of this sandwich had my mouth watering. I’d love to be able to go to hole-in-the-wall Cuban places on a regular basis – it sounds so yummy and an adventure in your own backyard! I was thinking about inviting some Chinese friends over for a Latino meal – this would make the perfect appetizer (even if I might have to make a few local substitutions).
The smaller, the better as far as the hole in the wall Cuban joints 😉
I’m a weirdo who doesn’t do mixed meat sandwiches. MFD loves Cubans though!