Havana Sandwiches
1 fresh Cuban baguette
1 1/3 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups sliced onions
1 green bell, seeded, julienned
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 chipotle peppers, dried and soaked in hot water 30 min., or canned in adobo sauce, chopped
1/4 cup vegan mayo (optional)
1 large ripe tomato, sliced thin
salt & pepper to taste
Cut bread crosswise into two, about 7 inches long. Cut each horizontally, press pieces with a large stockpot ( I use a small cutting board) weighted with heavy cans or books. Press with your own weight until bread flattens to 1 inch thickness. Leave weights in place.
Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium high heat in large skillet. Saute onions and peppers until they become somewhat blackened, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
While veggies are cooking, combine garlic, chopped chipotles, and vegan mayo in small bowl. Stir well.
Spread mayo mix on all four halves (use more or less to your liking, it is spicy). Lay onions and peppers, topped by tomato slices, over two halves. Top the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Place other two halves on top to form two sandwiches.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place sandwiches in skillet, weigh them down with a large plate or another skillet. Cook for 4 minutes each side, checking to make sure they do not burn. Serve right away.
SO HOW'D IT GO?
I'm making this today! Many brands of Cuban style rolls where I used to live were in fact vegan. However, I think you can use other types of bread if they're not where you live. I grew up eating Cuban food, we did not always use the same bread to make cubanos or anything for that matter. I think you got the main ingredients down pretty well, green pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil...but don't forget to further embellish these beauties with the capers, pimientos and fresh cracked black pepper:) I might add some platanos. If you like you can make your own Pan Cubano - it's really easy and does not necessarily need lard:) http://www.tasteofcuba.com/pancubano.html And thanks for posting this:)
I just wanted to say that Cuban bread is usually made with lard. Make sure you check the ingredients. ;)