Grilled Cuban sandwiches for 8: mojo-marinated pork roasted at home the day before, stacked with ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard, then pressed on the grill under a foil-wrapped brick or a cast-iron press at the lot. About 30 minutes at the lot, and at Hard Rock Stadium gas and charcoal grills are fine but open fires and kegs aren't.
Feeds: 8 · Hands-on: about 50 min · Total: about 4 hours at home plus an overnight marinade, plus about 30 min at the lot
Home gear: a roasting pan or Dutch oven, a sharp knife and foil
Pack for the lot
- 8 wrapped sandwiches, in the cooler on ice
- Softened butter, in a small container
- Gas or charcoal grill (in the trunk, never in tow)
- A large cast-iron skillet or griddle
- 2 foil-wrapped bricks, or a second cast-iron skillet or grill press
- Wide spatula and a butter brush or knife
- Instant-read thermometer
- Heat-proof gloves
- Cutting board and a serrated knife
- A metal can for spent coals (charcoal only)
Lot notes
- The Hard Rock Stadium rule: gas and charcoal grills are fine but open fires and kegs aren't. The guide's Grills row adds: "Coals out and cool before they go in the trash, never on the ground." Nothing can be in tow, so the grill rides in the trunk.
- Your space: your tailgate fits in the 8 x 10 foot box painted behind your car, and the fire lane stays clear. A small grill and one skillet fit easily.
- The heat: the guide's advice is to cook for the heat, with "things that come off the grill and get eaten fast." Press these to order and keep the pork and ham on ice until then. Above 90°F, nothing sits out more than 1 hour.
- Fuel: 2 rounds of pressing on medium heat is about 30 minutes of grill time.
- Cleanup: wipe the skillet once it cools. Charcoal goes in the metal can until it's out and cool.
Can you make Cuban sandwiches ahead?
Yes. Roast the pork up to 2 days ahead and build the sandwiches the morning of the game. Wrap them tightly and keep them on ice, then press them at the lot to 165°F in the center.
How do you keep Cuban sandwiches hot at a tailgate?
Don't hold them. Press them in rounds as people are ready to eat, since they're best right off the grill and the Miami heat makes holding food out risky.
How much do you need for 20 people?
Make 2½ batches: about 7½ lb of pork shoulder (2 roasts), about 3¾ lb of ham, 40 slices of Swiss, 80 pickle slices, 1¼ cups of mustard and 20 rolls. Press them in 5 rounds of 4, or run 2 skillets.
Can you grill at Hard Rock Stadium?
Yes. Gas and charcoal grills are allowed. Open fires like bonfires and pits aren't, and coals have to be out and cool before you throw them away.
Do you need a sandwich press for Cuban sandwiches?
No. A foil-wrapped brick or a second heavy cast-iron skillet set on top does the same job, flattening the sandwich so the bread crisps and the cheese melts through.