CUBAN STYLE PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICHES AND FRIED PLANTAINS

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Cuban Style Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches and Fried Plantains image

Put The Buena Vista Social Club on the stereo and invite over a few friends to make a weeknight trip to Cuba! Put on your best cabana shirts and keep a limbo pole on hand!

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield Up to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 2/3 to 2 pounds pork tenderloin, 2 pieces, the average weight of 1 package, trimmed
Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil, for drizzling
1 small onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 limes, zested
1 large orange, zested
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
8 crusty rolls, such as Portuguese rolls, torpedo loaves or muffuletta style round rolls
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup corn oil, 4 turns of the pan
4 black (ripe) plantains
1 teaspoon fine salt
6 dill pickles, chopped
1/2 cup sweet red pepper relish
2 scallions, chopped
1 pound shaved ham, from the deli counter
1 pound shaved Swiss cheese, from the deli counter
4 tablespoons butter, for toasting sandwiches
Frozen Mojito Slushes, recipe follows
1 pint lime sorbet or 1 can lime ade from frozen juice sectio
8 shots light rum
1/2 cup mint leaves
1 tray ice cubes

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Coat tenderloins with oil. Combine onion, garlic, citrus zest, salt, pepper and dried oregano in a pile on your cutting board. Pack this coating equally and evenly onto the tenderloins. Heat a large skillet. Add a drizzle of oil and sear tenderloin on all sides. Then place in hot oven to roast 20 to 25 minutes. Wash hands.
  • Brush rolls with a little warm water and sprinkle the tops of the rolls with 1/2 teaspoon sugar each. Pile rolls on a baking sheet and place in oven with meat for 5 minutes to crust rolls and set sugar. Authentic Cuban rolls used for this sandwich are sweet. This sugar wash process gives a similar effect to store bought rolls. When rolls come out of oven, split and pile on serving plate.
  • Preheat a stovetop griddle over medium high heat.
  • Heat 1/4 cup corn oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Peel plantains and cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then slice each 1/2 into thirds on an angle. Arrange plantains in pan in a single layer and cook until crisp, continuously flipping for even browning. Remove from skillet to paper towel lined plate and season with fine salt.
  • To assemble sandwiches: Thinly slice meat on an angle. Place ham and Swiss cheese on a serving plate, separating and fluffing up the shaved meat and cheese. Assemble sandwiches with desired fillings and place on a hot, buttered griddle. Use a heavy pan to press the sandwiches together. Toast until golden brown, then flip and toast the other side.
  • Combine chopped pickles, sweet red pepper relish and scallions in a small bowl.
  • Spread the relish on the tops of the rolls and pork slices, ham, and swiss cheese on the bottoms. Press the sandwiches together. Put about 1 tablespoon of butter on the hot griddle and spread to coat. Put 2 sandwiches at a time on the griddle, and top with a heavy cast-iron skillet. Toast sandwiches on the griddle, turning once, until golden, hot, and cheese is melted, 2 or 3 minutes per side.
  • Serve with a few slices of plantains per person as a side dish. Frozen Mojitos Slushes make a great drink or dessert.
  • In a blender, combine 1/2 pint sorbet or 1/2 can of lime aid with 4 shots of rum, 1/4 cup mint leaves and 1/2 tray of ice. Pulse, then blend on high until lime-mint slush is smooth. Pour drinks into 2 large cocktail glasses using a long handled spoon and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Mdjolil Miha
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I love this recipe! The pork is always tender and flavorful, and the plantains are a great addition.


Kirabo Joyce
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This is a great recipe for a party! The sandwiches are easy to make and they're always a hit.


sajid design
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I made this dish for my family and they all loved it! It's a great recipe for a weeknight meal.


Hussain Ahmed
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This recipe was easy to follow and the end result was delicious! I would definitely recommend it.


Tami Radue
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I'm not a big fan of pork, but I really enjoyed this dish. The pork was tender and flavorful, and the plantains were a nice addition.


Sharmelle Farren
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These sandwiches were a hit at my party! Everyone loved them.


Fiza Hussain
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This is a great recipe! The pork was flavorful and the plantains were crispy. I will definitely be making this again.


Sabrina Avila
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Yum!


Farjana mili
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These sandwiches were amazing! The pork was so tender and juicy, and the plantains were crispy and sweet. I loved the combination of flavors.


Thulani Jeffery
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I'm not a big fan of Cuban food, but I have to say that these sandwiches were really good! The pork was tender and flavorful, and the plantains were a nice touch.


Uncle Dukie
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This recipe was easy to follow and the end result was amazing! The pork was so tender and the plantains were crispy and sweet. I would definitely recommend this recipe.


Hgjfgkyk Furii
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These sandwiches were delicious! The pork was tender and flavorful, and the plantains were perfectly crispy. I loved the combination of flavors and textures.


Ejike Franklin
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I made this dish for my family and they all loved it! The pork was so tender and juicy, and the plantains were a great addition. I will definitely be making this again.


Meet khan Mirani
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The flavors in this dish were amazing! The pork was perfectly seasoned and the plantains were crispy and sweet. I would highly recommend this recipe to anyone who loves Cuban food.


young antwi
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These Cuban-style pork tenderloin sandwiches were a hit at my party! The pork was tender and flavorful, and the fried plantains added a nice touch of sweetness. I will definitely be making this dish again.