Cuban Sandwich Pizza
For the first time in my adulthood, I made homemade pizza crust. I previously tried to make pizza at home without homemade dough and it does not even come close in flavor nor texture! Therefore, homemade pizza crust is a must for my Cuban sandwich pizza.
Bushia (grandma in Polish) always made homemade pizza that had a delicious crust. She was known for making rectangular sheet pan pizzas that were full of flavor. Sometimes they were super spicy! My grandma is one of the reasons I love to cook and bake, so in her honor my first published recipe is a pizza.
This recipe is for no ordinary pizza. It is similar to the famous Cuban sandwich that you can get in almost every neighborhood in Miami. The original sandwich also has pork, but I did not add it to my pizza because I couldn’t find any in the grocery store! You know what? The pizza was still incredible.
The ingredients in this Cuban sandwich pizza really pop and make for a mouthwatering, crunchy, and cheesy pizza. Pickle fans, unite! It is a requirement and you will miss the extra saltiness and crunch if you take it off.
Some important notes about making pizza dough:
The yeast must not be expired!
The water used to activate the yeast must be between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise you risk the chance of the yeast not activating properly.
The flour I listed is an estimate. Continue to add flour to the dough while kneading until it is no longer sticky.
Allow for resting time
Recommended equipment
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
Cuban Sandwich Pizza
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons & cups
- Whisk
- Thermometer
- Electric Kettle
- Pastry mat
- Pizza pan
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 ¼ tsp Instant Yeast or 1 packet
- 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 ½ tsp Cane Sugar
- ¾ tsp Sea Salt
- ⅔ cup Warm Water 120°-130°F
- 1 ½ tbsp Softened Butter
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 2 tbsp Yellow Mustard
- 1 ¼ cup Swiss Cheese freshly grated, divided
- 6 slices Deli Honey Ham torn in smaller pieces
- 1 whole Kosher Dill Pickle diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Whisk 1 cup of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
- Heat water using an electric kettle or in the microwave until the temperature reaches 120°-130°F. Add the warm water and vegetable oil to the mixing bowl and mix together with your hands for one minute. Slowly add more flour and mix until the dough is no longer sticky, nor dry.
- Flour the pastry mat and knead the dough on the mat for about 4 minutes, adding flour as necessary to reduce any stickiness. Mold the dough into a ball, place in a floured mixing bowl and cover with a kitchen towel to rest for 10 minutes.
- Once the dough has finished resting, remove from the bowl and place onto the pastry mat and roll out the dough into a 9 inch circle (I used my hands). Then place the pizza dough onto the pizza pan and gently pinch the sides of the dough to form the crust.
- Spread softened butter, minced garlic, and mustard on the pizza (but not on the edges) and add 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese, ham, and pickles. Top with remaining ¼ cup of cheese.
- Bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned and the crust is golden brown (cooking times can vary based on your oven).
Notes
- Use a thermometer or electric kettle with temperature control to ensure the water is between 120°-130°F
- Flour your hands and surface when handling the dough
- It is easier to add flour than to take away, so add just a bit of flour at a time
- If you want to add pork, which is necessary for a classic Cuban sandwich, use ½ cup shredded pork.
Did you make this recipe? I would LOVE to see how it turned out! Be sure to post and tag @thefoodworthian on instagram and use #thefoodworthian
Do you have a favorite memory of making pizza or is there a certain pizza topping that you just have to have on all of your pizzas? Let me know in the comments below!
