What To Serve With Cuban Sandwiches: Sides & Compliments
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Cuban sandwiches are delicious, but they can also be really messy. They’re great on their own, but if you want to serve them at a gathering with friends or family members, you’ll need some sides! They are a perfect way to add some variety when you have guests. The Cuban sandwich is a popular sandwich that originated in Cuba. The filling is typically roast pork, ham, cheese, pickles, and sometimes dill spear slices.
If you are wondering what side dishes go well with the hot and messy Cuban sandwich, we have got you covered. There are plenty of combinations that you can choose from. We’ve got 9 Cuban sandwich side recipes that will complement your sandwich perfectly. These include breads, salads, snacks, and more. You can’t go wrong with any of these dishes!
Fresh Salad
The simplest and easiest side dish you can prepare for your Cuban sandwich is a fresh veggie salad. It’s an easy salad recipe that only requires you to chop up your veggies and toss them together in a bowl. You can choose any fresh vegetables that you like, including lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, or even bell peppers. Adding extra citrusy flavors like vinaigrette dressing, mangoes, or oranges will bring little acidity to your salad, which feels great with a Cuban sandwich. On the other hand, if you don’t want greens in your salad, you can stick to the Cuban theme. There are many Cuban salads like corn, sweet plantain, and black beans that can complement your Cuban sandwich.
Coleslaw
Another popular side dish to serve with your Cuban sandwich is coleslaw. Coleslaw can come in many different varieties but for this recipe, cabbage coleslaw is the most popular among them. Cabbage provides the perfect crunch and texture when shredded finely (or grated). You can also add some carrots into the mix if you want more nutrients or color.
Cajun Chips
Since we’re talking about Cuban sandwiches, why not make some cajun chips? These chips are made from thin and crispy potato slices that you can bake in the oven.
Fried Plantain Chips
If you are craving something sweet to go with your sandwich, a bowl of fried plantains will definitely do the job. The savory Cuban sandwich paired with starchy plantain will add an extra flavor layer that you need in a quick meal. And not to forget all the potassium you will get from this side dish.
Cornbread
To top it all off, you can serve a quick and easy cornbread recipe with your Cuban sandwich. This bread will be moist on the inside but fluffy on the outside. And for extra flavor? Add some jalapenos into this recipe. Don’t forget that there are also other ways to season up your cornbread, so feel free to experiment until you find something that works best for you.
Veggies with Hummus
Looking for a healthy side dish for your Cuban sandwich that’s quick and easy to make? Try serving fresh vegetables with hummus!
French Fries
You can also serve french fries with your Cuban sandwich. This side dish is tasty and filling so make sure to include it in moderation (unless everyone else shares the same opinion as well). But, why should you try making French Fries? Well, for one thing, they’re relatively easy to make and filling.
As a bonus: if you want an even deeper side dish flavor – add some cheese on top! This recipe works best when using mozzarella, but there are many types of cheeses, so experiment until you find one that tastes great together with your Cuban sandwich. You can dip the french fries into this cheesy topping before eating them for a truly delicious meal. However, make sure not to include too much since it’s very filling (but tasty).
Tomato Soup
Last but not least, you can serve tomato soup with your Cuban sandwich. Make sure to include some spices in the mix too! For example, basil leaves are great during summertime when eating this recipe hot, oregano works well all year round, rosemary tastes amazing with beef stock instead of water, etc.; there are many options available to make this meal even more delicious!
Black Beans
Black beans are a popular dish in Cuban cuisine. It is made with onions, peppers, and garlic and this side dish is boasted with flavor. Squeeze in lime to add acidity, and you’ll have a super yummy side dish.
Cucumber Tomato Salad
It is a simple yet refreshing side dish to try with your Cuban sandwich. The fresh cucumber and tomato perfectly compliment the Cuban sandwich. Moreover, you can make the salad ahead and chill it in the refrigerator prior to serving. This will allow the vegetables to absorb the flavors well. Don’t forget to add fresh basil on top of your salad. And it’s okay if you don’t have fresh basil, you can use dried Italian seasoning or dried basil.
Mango Salsa
Toss some purple tortilla chips in a bowl and serve with mango salsa. It is an amazing blast of flavors that will bring the entire meal alive.
Mashed Plantains
This is among one of the unique side dishes to try with your Cuban sandwich. When you put forward this golden dish on the table, it is likely to make your guests curious. And once they taste the unique flavor of this dish, they will come back for more. You can make this dish either savory or sweet, depending on your choice. But since your Cuban sandwich already has that savory factor, a sweet side dish will be more suited.
Empanadas
This delicious side dish is something different, especially when served with a Cuban sandwich. You can make traditional empanadas, and they will be a massive success. Other than the classic way, there are so many different styles to create this dish. More importantly, it is quite easy to make; just have your recipe ready.
Tomato Bisque
Sandwiches and soups are classic pairings that most people overlook these days. And, it’s time for you to bring back this magical combo. You can dip your Cuban sandwich in the flavors of bisque and take the taste to a whole new level. Tomato soup and tomato bisque are two different things. The latter is made using cream, making it richer.
Steak Fries
The garlic steak fries will win the heart of your loved ones when you serve them with Cuban sandwiches. They just need thirty minutes, and you should serve them fresh out of the oven. Before serving the fires, drizzle over olive oil soaked in minced garlic and top it off with parsley. It not only adds to the taste but also makes the dish pretty.
Homemade Pickle
People often think that making pickles is a difficult process. But you can make homemade pickles in 24 hours. And most of the pickles don’t need that many ingredients. Ensure that whatever ingredients you are using are fresh. Eat them with a Cuban sandwich and include a whole new flavor in your palate.
Caesar Salad
A crispy Caesar salad is ideal for serving with your flavorful Cuban sandwiches. And the good thing is that this salad needs only a couple of ingredients. In a bowl, simply toss romaine, parmesan cheese, croutons and salad dressing. Place it in the fridge to chill and serve with your sandwich. The strong flavors of your Cuban sandwich will be balanced by the crispy and fresh salad.
Potato Salad
A creamy bowl of potato salad works well with a hot Cuban sandwich. The texture of the salad will pair well with the Cuban. Try to make this side dish a day before and allow it to chill in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to come together beautifully. Use Dijon mustard and fill in the recipe to boost the flavor.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
The subtle sweetness of this side dish complements the savory flavors of the Cuban sandwich. Top your sweet potatoes with salt and butter to accentuate the flavors. You can also air-fry the potatoes and get the same results.
Potato Chips
Potato chips and sandwiches are a combination that brings back so many memories. It is a classic combination that never loses its charm. And it is very easy to make potato chips at home. One batch of these chips will be ready in just 10 minutes.
Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is not a popular side dish, but it is surely worth giving a try. Ensure that you use fresh fruits for this recipe to get the refreshing bite. And, there are so many dressings to try, and each of them will work great. Moreover, the savory and sweet flavors of the Cuban sandwich and fruit salad will complement each other well.
Conclusion
Try all these delicious Cuban Sandwich Side Dish Recipes at home yourself. Trust us; they’re good enough to become the main course every time you have Cuban sandwiches for lunch or dinner! Try them out now, so you don’t forget how tasty they are when summertime comes around again next year. In fact, why not add other members to this list? You won’t regret it since we’ve got some awesome ideas in store. Keep checking back for more recipes soon!
