Cuban Sandwich....mustard or mayo?
I was having a "spirited discussion" as to what condiment ideally goes on a cuban sandwich. I have always enjoyed mine with mustard on the several trips i have made down in Miami. My cuban friend on the other hand swears that mayo is the "real" way to have a cuban sandwich. So which one is it mustard or mayo?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
19 Comments:
I'm not sure what the "real" way is, but I don't think I've ever had to think about this issue. The versions I've gotten have always been made with mustard.
Adam Kuban at 12:35PM on 04/11/09
I had one last week with a garlicky, tangy aoli (so kinda mayo, I guess) on the side. Mmmm. Don't know how authentic that is, but I didn't much care.
marzipan at 1:25PM on 04/11/09
Even if a mustard Cuban is a bastardization of a "real cuban"- I'm ok with being a bastard. Mayo, in my humble opinion, would ruin the sandwich. Mustard and pickles is classic!
PumpkinBear at 3:56PM on 04/11/09
who cares what's "real" go for what you like, for me its mustard! I would think mayo would just be a little to greasy along with the cheese.
huneybumper at 5:15PM on 04/11/09
BBQ sauce.
dmcavanagh at 5:31PM on 04/11/09
Both.
izatryt at 6:17PM on 04/11/09
An ailoi that incorporates mustard, among other flavors, is the correct answer.
sailordave at 8:08PM on 04/11/09
The way I understand it, there is never mayo in a Cuban sandwich. It's supposed to be as much an abomination as sugar in tomato sauce to Italians.
therealchiffonade at 9:01PM on 04/11/09
I had one when in Miami and it was with mustard and pickles. But this new place here in Seattle (which is now my ultimate favorite sandwich) that makes these Cuban sandwiches with a garlic aioli. Now I have to go there and get one yippeee!!
pjracz10 at 7:54AM on 04/12/09
Take it from the daughter of a Cuban... if it does not have mustard, it's not really a Cuban sandwich... mayo, it's really optional, but butter on the bread it's what's traditional.
MadelynRodriguez at 3:43PM on 04/12/09
I don't know what counts as "real" on a cuban, but I can't imagine it tasting good with anything other than mustard. Mayo would totally throw off the whole balance IMHO.
chisai at 8:44PM on 04/12/09
Mustard. Always mustard. Yellow mustard, spicy mustard, coarse-grained mustard. Perhaps even a honey mustard.
beth1 at 12:16AM on 04/13/09
Mustard!!! Whole-grain!
Corrinne at 1:26PM on 04/13/09
It depends on where you are - Miami, Tampa or Key West. In Tampa and Miami, they do mustard. In Key West, I believe they do mayo.
Also, since we're geeking out: Tampa adds genoa salami to their Cubans as well. The supposed birthplace of the Cuban sandwich is downtown Tampa's Ybor City. Back at the turn of the century (er, the other turn of the century), when Ybor City held all the old cigar factories, the Cuban and Italian immigrant neighborhoods rubbed shoulders, hence the salami.
My friend Andy Huse is like the Adam Kuban of Cuban sandwiches: http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/05/Floridian/The_search_for_the_pe.shtml
cindyprice at 4:17PM on 04/17/09
This is the craziest thing I have ever read ... it is NEITHER mustard nor mayo ... Cuban sandwich is made with Mojo, which is a garlic and olive oil based sauce.
If you put mustard OR mayo on it, it's not a Cuban sandwich.
redfish at 9:03AM on 04/18/09
Neither of both! A REAL Cuban sandwich is not supposed to have either Mayonnaise or mustard. The only spread it is supposed to come with is butter. BTW, the butter is supposed to be spread inside AND outside to add that shiny look in the outside.
asg749d at 11:06AM on 04/18/09
Also Ybor City is not the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich ... the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich is Havana, which has the advantage of actually being in Cuba.
redfish at 2:26PM on 04/18/09
My understanding is that traditionally the bread is spread with both butter and mustard, and the roast pork is marinated in the mojo sauce (my favorite!). But, I am sure this varies both by region and what is on hand, as do most recipes.
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 6:18AM on 04/19/09
Nope there is no mustard in an actual Cuban sandwich ... the mojo is drizzled on the inside of the top piece of bread, like some people put oil on a sub.
Then the whole thing is pressed in a hot press ... if it is not pressed it is not a Cuban sandwich.
There are regional differences in how supposed Cuban sandwiches are made in the United States, but there are no regional differences in how an actual Cuban sandwich is made.
redfish at 9:46AM on 04/20/09