Easy Homemade Cuban Bread Recipe Pan Cubano
Do you love to make bread? Don’t miss out on this classic Cuban bread recipe. It is also called Pan Cubano. Cuban bread is a popular recipe because it is used in the traditional Cuban sandwich.
Nothing beats the taste of freshly baked Cuban bread. It is soft on the inside with a thin, crisp crust. It tastes great with melted butter and is also perfect for making a Cubano sandwich.
The best part of this recipe is that it is far easier to make at home than you might think. Once you try it, you’ll absolutely love it.
In this article, you’ll learn how to make traditional Cuban bread at home, with simple step-by-step instructions.
History of Cuban Bread
The first commercial bakery known for making Cuban bread was La Joven Francesca, which opened in Ybor City in 1896. At that time, a loaf cost only 3 to 5 cents and was delivered fresh to people’s homes every day.
Imagine having fresh bread delivered to your door each morning! Cuban bread tastes great on its own, but it is best known as the bread used for the famous Cuban sandwich, also called a Cubano.
Ingredients
Here are some simple ingredients you need to make a Cuban bread recipe.
Yeast:
- 300 ml warm water
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 ½ tsp active dry yeast
Dough:
- 4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ tsp Salt
- 3 tsp lard
- 1 tsp vegetable oil (or as needed)
Step-by-Step Process to Make Cuban Bread Recipe
Follow these simple steps to make Cuban bread at home.
1. Starter
In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the dry active yeast, warm water, and a little all-purpose flour. Whisk gently until it’s smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
2. Dough
In a mixing bowl, place yeast, 2 tsp sugar, and warm water. Let it rest for 15 minutes to ensure the yeast is alive and bubbling on the surface. Then add lard, 1 tsp salt, and 1 cup of the flour to the bowl.
Mix until incorporated and the dough forms a sticky ball. Add 1/2 cup of the flour, stir until you have a very sticky dough, then add the starter and mix to incorporate.
3. Kneading
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it forms a firm ball. Add up to ½ cup more flour if needed. Cuban Bread Recipe Dough must be soft and supple, with just a little tackiness on the surface (not sticky, just slightly tacky).
After that, place the dough in a bowl and coat the surface with a bit of oil so it doesn’t dry out. Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel and place it in a warm spot to rise. Let rise until at least doubled in size, about 2 hours.
4. Shaping
Take one dough ball and gently flatten the dough into a rectangle. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to an 18 x 5 rectangle.
Tightly fold the long side of the dough into itself. Then continue to roll it until you have an 18-inch log. Take the ends of the log and fold them in by pinching the seams together. Then pinch the seams along the dough so that it seals.
With the seam side down, roll the dough to make sure it’s even and smooth. Place the dough on a full-size baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Do the same with the second dough. Cover with a light, dry towel and let rise until doubled in size, for 2 hours.
5. Baking
After proofing, remove the bread and the pan of water from the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
When the oven is ready, take a bread lame or a razor blade and score a shallow cut (about ¼ in deep) along the center of each loaves in one quick motion.
Lightly spray the loaves with water and place them on the middle rack.
Then, bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. The bread should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
6. Cool, Slice, and Enjoy the Cuban Bread
Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. Cuban Bread Recipe For the best texture, enjoy the bread the same day it’s baked.
Is Cuban bread healthy?
Authentic Cuban bread is not usually seen as a healthy food. It is a white-flour bread made with refined flour, yeast, water, salt, and lard.
Since it has very little fiber, no whole grains, and only a small amount of nutrients, it is less healthy than whole-wheat bread.
Here are a few quick facts about the nutrition in Cuban bread:
Calories & Carbs: One slice typically contains 55 to 110 calories and 10 to 22 grams of carbohydrates, depending on slice size.
Fiber: Traditional Cuban bread contains little to no dietary fiber.
Fat: Cuban bread is traditionally made with lard and has around 0.7 to 1 gram of fat per slice. Some store-bought versions use vegetable oil instead.
FAQs (Cuban Bread Recipe)
1. What ingredients are in a Cuban bread recipe?
Cuban bread is usually made with bread flour, yeast, warm water, sugar, salt, and lard. Some recipes also use a little vinegar to improve the texture.
2. What makes Cuban bread different?
Cuban bread has a thin, crisp crust and a soft, light center. Traditional loaves are often baked with a palm leaf placed on top, which creates a line down the middle as the bread rises.
3. What is the difference between Cuban bread and Italian bread?
Cuban bread often contains lard, while most Italian bread recipes use olive oil or no fat at all. Cuban bread is usually softer inside and has a thinner crust, while Italian bread may be chewier with a thicker crust.
4. What is another name for Cuban bread?
Cuban bread is also called pan Cubano. In Spanish, “pan” simply means bread.
5. Can Cuban bread be made without lard?
Yes, you can replace the lard with shortening, butter, or oil. The flavor and texture may be slightly different, but the bread will still turn out soft and tasty.
