C – ‘Cuban sandwich’
Ingredients A–Z: A World of Flavour, One Ingredient at a Time
C- ‘Cuban sandwich’
‘Cuban sandwich’
Part of the Ingredients A–Z series → C
🥪 Cuban Sandwich
🥪 More than lunch — it’s heritage between bread.
The Cuban sandwich is a celebrated specialty of Cuban communities in Florida, particularly in Tampa and Miami 🌴. Hearty, pressed, and deeply satisfying, it reflects the movement of people, ingredients, and traditions across borders.
Cuban immigrants are credited with bringing the sandwich to Florida. They arrived in Tampa during the Spanish-American War 🇨🇺➡️🇺🇸. Tampa’s historic Ybor City, a hub for cigar workers and Cuban labourers, became a natural home for this robust meal. A famous version is still served at Columbia Restaurant. The sandwich is made on long French-style bread. It is generously filled with smoked ham, fresh ham, salami, Swiss cheese, sour pickles, and mustard or butter. Then it is toasted until crisp and golden 🔥🧀🥒.
Another origin is attributed to José Sacre, a Lebanese immigrant who settled in Cuba in the 1930s 🌍. His version used warm ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, and sour pickles. These were layered on buttered Cuban bread (flauta) and grilled in a sandwich press. Seasonings such as lime juice, garlic, and herbs added brightness and depth 🍋🧄. This style was later brought to Florida by Cubans fleeing the Castro regime, helping shape the sandwich’s modern identity.
Variations exist — including the debated use of salami in Tampa versus Miami. However, the essence remains the same: a pressed, toasted sandwich built on balance 🥪. Rich meats, melted cheese, sharp pickles, and crisp bread come together in a way that is both comforting and assertive.
Also known as the Cuban Mixed Sandwich or Tampa Cuban, this iconic dish is more than lunch. It’s a symbol of migration. It represents adaptation and shared food heritage.
🥪 The Cuban sandwich is pressed flat. It is packed full and layered with history. The sandwich tells its story one bite at a time.
A note from the kook’s kitchen
This is where I share the things that don’t always make it onto the site. I include quiet techniques, ingredient stories, and the small details. These details make cooking better over time.
Shared occasionally. Always useful.