Pork Cubano Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 bone in pork shoulder roast (about 4 pounds) or boneless or strips

Brine

4 cups orange juice

2 cups water

½ cup rice wine vinegar

½ cup spiced rum

½ cup kosher salt

¼ cup brown sugar

A whole head of garlic, crushed

2-3 stems fresh oregano, coarsely chopped

2-3 stems fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped

2-3 stems thyme, coarsely chopped

2-3 stems fresh sage, coarsely chopped

3 bay leaves

Note: Jay used pineapple juice instead of orange. He did not add any water, skipped the rice wine vinegar and reduced the salt. He also added cilantro and black pepper.

Marinade

½ cup olive oil

Juice and zest of three oranges

Juice, zest, and carcasses of six limes

2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped

½ cup chopped cilantro

¼ cup chopped mint

1 head crushed garlic

2-3 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons freshly ground and toasted cumin

Note: Jay skipped the extra marinade and basted with the brine instead.

For Cubanos

1 loaf Pan Cubano

6 slices ham

12 thin pickle slices

6 thin slices swiss cheese

Yellow mustard

Butter

Instructions:

1. Remove skin from roast and score the fat; place in a large bowl.

2. Combine all brine ingredients and pour over roast. Cover and refrigerate 12-24 hours.

3. Combine all marinade ingredients. Remove roast from brine, pat dry, and place in a clean bowl. Cover with marinade, give the roast a nice shoulder-rub, groove to the music, cover and refrigerate two hours.

4. Place roast on a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet, baste with marinade, and place in 350-degree oven for 2 ½ -3 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let meat rest about 30 minutes.

5. Assemble Cubano by toasting inside of bread on buttered plancha. Fry up ham and thin slices of roast pork. Layer on sandwich, topped with Swiss cheese and sliced pickles. Spread yellow mustard on top half of bun, top the sandwich with the bun, butter top of bread, and grill on plancha for 3-4 minutes or until golden and melty. Cut diagonally, take a picture, and reap the rewards of your efforts!