The Medianoche sandwich is layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles, then pressed, much like a Cuban sandwich, but served on eggy sweet rolls. Learn how to make it at home!
Cuban Medianoche Sandwich Recipe
Have you ever had a Cuban Medianoche Sandwich? You're in for a delicious treat! This sandwich hits every spot.
The medianoche a pressed sandwich layered with Cuban roast pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard, all served on sweet egg rolls.
It's a Cuban specialty, traditionally served as a late-night snack in Cuban Havana's nightclubs. The name means "midnight" in Spanish, perfect after a long night of dancing and partying.
It is very much like the popular Cuban sandwich, the primary difference in being served on sweet egg rolls or bread instead of Cuban bread.
This is a homemade version that's very easy to make. I think you're going to love it.
Let's talk about how to make a medianoche, shall we?
Medianoche Sandwich Ingredients
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Sweet Egg Bread or Rolls. See the Recipe Notes for options.
- Butter.
- Yellow Mustard.
- Roast Pork. Use my Cuban roast pork recipe, my Pernil recipe, or use sliced roasted pork tenderloin.
- Sliced Ham. Use homemade roasted ham or your favorite deli ham for convenience.
- Swiss Cheese.
- Dill Pickles.
How to Make a Medianoche Sandwich - the Recipe Method
Butter the bottom half of the rolls with softened or melted butter. Spread the mustard on the top half.
Layer the sandwich with roast pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese and dill pickles.
Top the sandwich, brush with extra butter, then press it down in a hot grill pan 5-6 minutes per side until the bread is crispy.
Use another heavy pan or spatula to press it down while it's cooking. A panini press works great for this.
Remove, slice and serve. You can cool them down on a wire rack if you'd like.
Boom! Done! Your mouth watering medianoche is ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn't it? Enjoy it nice and hot!
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Best Bread for a Medianoche Sandwich. The medianoche is traditionally made with Cuban pan de medianoche, or “medianoche bread”, also called “pan suave”. You can use any eggy sweet rolls for this, like challah bread. It’s also great with crustier bread like ciabatta or baguettes.
Storage & Leftovers
Leftover medianoche sandwiches will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. I like to warm them up in my air fryer toaster oven, or on low heat in the oven.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this medianoche recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy spicy cooking, I hope you'll check out my cookbook! 75 easy recipes with big, bold flavor.
- The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Cuban Medianoche Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 sweet eggy bread rolls (use Cuban pan suave or pan de medianoche, challah, Hawaiian rolls, or other eggy sandwich rolls – see recipe notes)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard or to taste
- 1 pound roast pork Use my Cuban roast pork recipe, Pernil, or use sliced roasted pork tenderloin
- 1 pound sliced ham glazed ham is great, or your favorite deli ham
- 4 ounces Swiss cheese or more to your preference
- 4 ounces sliced dill pickles or to taste
Instructions
- Slice the rolls in half lengthwise. Butter the bottom half with softened butter. Spread the mustard on the top half.
- Layer the sandwich with roast pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese and dill pickles. Top the medianoche with the top bread slice.
- Slather extra butter over both sides of the sandwich.
- Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the Cuban sandwich for 5-6 minutes per side, pressing it down very firmly with another pan or spatula to "press" it tightly, until warmed through and bread is nice and crispy. You can also use a sandwich press.
- Remove, slice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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