We have brainstormed and come up with exactly what to serve with a Cuban sandwich.
A Cuban sandwich is made with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, but you’re free to pick and choose your own seasoning.
Yes, that’s right!
That’s two kinds of meat from the same animal in a single sandwich.
It’s served traditionally on Cuban bread.
No Cuban bread available?
Never fear!
You can either use a French loaf or ciabatta; worst case scenario, you could use ordinary toasted white bread.
It’ll taste good regardless, I promise!
So where’d it come from?
The sandwich first made its way to the shores of America in the 1900s together with migrant workers from Latin America.
They then established food stalls, and later, restaurants, which made the dish a little more available to the general public.
In this article, we’ll be exploring what foods go best together with the Cuban.
Here I have a list of some of the best sides that go with Cuban sandwiches.
AND yes, we had fun brainstorming this tasty list.
Baked sweet potatoes are a perfect side for Cuban sandwiches.
The rich sweet flavor of these golden beauties pairs perfectly.
I recommend topping the sweet potato with just butter and salt.
I love to cook sweet potatoes in the air fryer.
This way I avoid heating up the house and they cook a bit faster.
This Carolina coleslaw doesn’t use mayonnaise.
It is flavored with apple cider vinegar, which compliments a Cuban perfectly.
It is also slightly sweet and packed with veggies.
You can make this side dish in advance and let it chill.
Baked plantains are a fantastic side dish for your next Cuban dinner.
I recommend baking the plantains whole and unsliced.
They will make a beautiful presentation.
After they are baked you could slice them down the middle like a baked potato and top them with guacamole.
This side dish will be unique and delicious.
This is a simple and refreshing cold side dish.
The fresh tomato and cucumber will compliment your Cuban sandwich perfectly.
You can also make this side dish in advance because we recommend chilling it in the fridge before serving.
That allows time for the veggies to absorb the flavors.
If you don’t have fresh basil you can use dried basil or dried Italian seasoning.
Potato chips are a popular side for Cuban sandwiches.
I say that homemade potato chips are an even better side dish.
Homemade potato chips are so easy to make in the air fryer.
You only need potatoes, olive oil, and salt.
You can cook up a batch in about 10 minutes.
These are surprisingly delicious so be prepared for folks to ask for seconds.
Fries and Cuban sandwiches go together perfectly.
If you want to stay traditional but also shake things up a bit, pair sweet potato fries with your sandwich.
You can make sweet potato fries in the air fryer in about 20 minutes.
We keep the recipe simple by only adding olive oil and coarse salt.
But you could add some garlic salt or truffle salt to spice things up a bit.
Tip: Be sure that your sweet potato slices are very dry before you cook them.
Creamy red potato salad serves up well with a hot sandwich.
The texture complements the Cuban perfectly.
That beautiful texture comes into play because we leave the skin on the red potatoes.
This is another side dish that we recommend you make a day ahead if you have time.
That way it can chill in the fridge and the flavors can merge.
The Dijon mustard and fresh dill used in this recipe will just add to that perfect compliment.
8. Caesar Salad
A nice crisp Caesar salad is the perfect side to serve with Cuban sandwiches.
It only requires a few ingredients.
Toss together some crisp romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and of course Caesar salad dressing.
While it is true that a traditional Caesar salad dressing contains anchovies, we created a recipe without anchovies.
We combine lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and a few other ingredients to make the perfect dressing.
9. Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is an often-overlooked side dish and I don’t really know why.
If you got a sub shop, you will almost always see fruit salad as an offered side, and with good reason.
This fruit salad linked below is made with a honey-lime dressing. Those two flavors pair perfectly with a Cuban sandwich.
The honey pairs with the ham and the lime pairs with the pork. Give this one a try for sure.
10. Homemade Pickles
Did you know that you can make homemade pickles in just 24 hours?
Shocking!
I know.
These pickles don’t require any special ingredients.
They are best if you have fresh dill but you can get around that if needed.
Serve these with your next Cuban sandwich and enjoy every bite.
11. Steak Fries
These garlic parm steak fries will be a crowd-pleaser for sure.
They are baked up fresh in the oven and ready in 30 minutes.
I like to serve these with a bit of minced garlic soaked in olive oil drizzled on top.
Oh and don’t forget the parsley.
Not only does it make them pretty when served but it also tastes delicious.
12. Tomato Bisque
Soup and sandwich are such a classic combo that most people seem to skip right over it these days.
I think that is a big mistake.
You can dip your sandwich in the bisque or you can just enjoy the two side by side.
If you are curious, tomato bisque is different from tomato soup because the bisque is made with cream.
That makes it rich and unique.
13. Black Beans
Black beans are a classic side dish to go with Cuban sandwiches.
To make delicious classic Cuban black beans it is recommended that you saute the onion, garlic, and peppers.
Sauteeing the spices will make the beans extra tasty. Also, this recipe uses canned black beans to keep the recipe quick.
Don’t worry, though, because it will still be delicious.
For a delightful side dish to Cuban sandwiches, why not try something a bit different?
Yes, you could make traditional empanadas and they will be a huge hit.
But what if you made plantain empanadas instead?
Don’t be intimidated by this recipe.
It really isn’t all that difficult to make.
15. Lemon Rice
A serving of perfectly prepared white rice is a real treat.
People take rice for granted and they shouldn’t.
If you made the black beans mentioned above and served them with a bowl of fragrant lemon rice you will be a star.
Cooking perfect white rice is an art form and we have the secret.
First, did you know that you should rinse your rice before you cook it?
Yes, you should.
Also, give our Rice & Fruit Salad a try. It’s not too sweet.
16. Mashed Plantains
Mashed plantains are a unique side dish that you don’t serve often.
So when you place this golden side dish down on the table people will be quite curious.
Then when they dive in they will taste the unique flavors and for sure go back for seconds.
At the link below you will find a savory option and a sweet option.
While they both perfectly pair with a Cuban sandwich, I recommend trying the sweet version first.
17. Mango Salsa
Grab some purple tortilla chips and throw them in a bowl.
Then serve them up with this mango salsa and sit back.
My only tip for this side for Cuban sandwiches is to double the recipe because I always run out.
Yuca with Garlic Sauce, Yuca Con Mojo in Cuban, is a dish made from the yuca root.
What’s a Yuca?
The yuca, also known as yucca or cassava, is a tropical starchy root crop that is popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
It has a white, waxy flesh akin to the potato, and is traditionally served boiled, baked, or fried.
It’ll taste amazing with garlic sauce and will complement your Cuban Sandwich well.
The Rainbow Power Salad is aptly named, as the carrots, zucchini, herbs, and chickpeas blend together beautifully, showing off a vibrant tapestry of colors.
Not only does it look and taste good, but the recipe author swears it contains a boost of nutritious power to help you with your daily grind.
The Malanga is another starchy root crop similar to the yucca, taro, or potato.
It has a consistency very much like creamy potato soup, but with a much earthier flavor.
Try it today if you’re looking for something exotic, yet homey and familiar.
Here we have the all too familiar Avocado prepared Cuban style.
Avocado is popular with people who are trying to lose weight as it is well-known to curb appetite, making you feel full and satisfied.
Just remember to eat slowly to give it a chance to work its magic.
Cuban Style Pork Stew presents a combination of flavors mostly unknown to the North American palate.
The blend of spicy, subtly sweet together with Latin spices is sure to turn up curiosity.
The first taste is sure to inspire a bevy of questions about this dish.
Be sure to have the recipe handy in case of impromptu trivia contests.
If you live in the Portland area and are a fan of Cuban food, then chances are you’ve heard of the restaurant Pambiche.
In that case, you would know about one of their most well-known dishes, the Ensalada de Remolacha, or the Cuban Beet Salad.
The combination of beets, watercress, olive oil, and sour orange vinaigrette makes for a light, simple, fresh salad and is key to its success.
Have you ever had eggplant in a salad?
If not, then making this dish is strongly recommended.
The savory flavor of the roasted eggplant combines perfectly with the sauteed peppers, carrots, and onions.
When you add in the seasoned oil dressing, it creates a powerful flavor and a unique texture that will leave you craving for more.
Ensalada de Coditos, or Macaroni Salad in the vernacular, is an extremely versatile dish.
There are various ways to make it: whether to serve with mayo or not, to drench it, or to skimp when you do choose mayo, it’s all up to you.
You can also add in your choice of ham, shrimp, tuna, chicken, or ground beef; no matter what you choose, it will always come out tasting amazing.
The bottom line
Cuban sandwiches are so delicious that they can be a meal unto themselves, but what’s the fun in that?
When it comes to what to serve with Cuban sandwiches I suggest that you pick two or three items above and make a feast out of them.
25 BEST Ideas For What To Serve With A Cuban Sandwich
Here are the many standout sides to serve with a Cuban sandwich.
Ingredients
- Baked Sweet Potato
- No-Mayo Coleslaw
- Baked Plantains
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Homemade Potato Chips
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Creamy Red Potato Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Fruit Salad
- Homemade Pickles
- Steak Fries
- Tomato Bisque
- Black Beans
- Empanadas De Plátano
- Lemon Rice
- Mashed Plantains
- Mango Salsa
- Yuca With Garlic Sauce
- Rainbow Power Salad With Roasted Chickpeas
- Cuban Cream Of Malanga Soup
- Cuban Raw Vegan Style Avocado Salad
- Cuban Style Pork Stew
- Ensalada de Remolacha
- Roasted Eggplant Salad Recipe
- Ensalada de Coditos
Instructions
- Pick one to three sides on the list of what to serve with a Cuban sandwich!
- Gather the ingredients.
- Pat yourself on the back for a homemade meal!
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