Crispy Cuban Sandwich, reinvented as a Rice Paper Spiral
This Crispy Cuban Sandwich Rice Paper Spiral is packed with roast pork, ham, mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese, then baked until golden and crunchy.
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A Cuban sandwich is one of those things that doesn’t need fixing.
Roast pork, ham, mustard, pickles, Swiss. Pressed until hot, crispy, and melty. It’s already doing everything right.
But every now and then I like to take a flavor combo that people know and rebuild it in a totally different format.
This time it became a spiral.
The rice paper bakes up insanely crisp while the inside stays loaded with pork, ham, melty cheese, and those punchy mustard and pickle flavors that make a Cuban sandwich so addictive.
Then the whole thing gets sliced like a pinwheel and dipped in a quick mojo-style yogurt sauce that brings citrus, garlic, and oregano into the mix.
If you love Cuban sandwiches and you love crispy things, this one is dangerously easy to demolish.
Why this Crispy Cuban Rice Paper Sandwich works
Three layers of rice paper create structure and crunch. Egg wash softens the rice paper and helps it crisp evenly. Rolling the filling into a spiral distributes cheese and meat in every slice. The citrusy mojo yogurt cuts the richness of the pork and cheese.
"Wow, this was amazing! It was so fun to eat one of my favorite sandwiches with a healthier twist"
- Jill (email subscriber)
Recipe
Crispy Cuban Sandwich Rice Paper Spiral
Ingredients
For the Spiral
- 3 rice paper sheets
- 2 eggs whisked well
- 4 to 5 slices deli ham
- 4 to 5 slices roast pork
- Yellow mustard generous drizzle
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped pickles
- ½ to ¾ cup shredded Swiss or mozzarella
- 1 to 2 teaspoons barbecue seasoning
- Oil spray or light brush of oil
Mojo Yogurt Sauce
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 small clove garlic finely grated
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or 1 teaspoon dried
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven or air fryer to 400°F with fan or convection if possible.
- Dip: Dip 1 rice paper sheet into 2 whisked eggs for 2 to 3 seconds and lay it flat.
- Layer rice paper: Dip the second and third rice paper sheets and overlap them slightly to form one long sheet.
- Add pork: Layer 4 to 5 slices roast pork over the ham.
- Add mustard: Drizzle yellow mustard across the entire surface.
- Add pickles: Scatter 3 tablespoons finely chopped pickles evenly.
- Add cheese: Cover edge to edge with ½ to ¾ cup shredded Swiss or mozzarella.
- Roll: Roll the rice paper tightly into a compact log.
- Spiral: Coil the log into a spiral and place it on greased parchment or in your air fryer basket.
- Season: Lightly spray with oil, brush the top with remaining egg wash, and sprinkle with 1 to 2 teaspoons barbecue seasoning.
- Cook: Bake or air fry for 15 to 20 minutes until deeply golden and crispy.
Notes
- Convection or an air fryer helps the rice paper crisp properly.
- If the spiral looks pale after 15 minutes, give it a few extra minutes in the oven to fully blister.
- Chop the pickles finely so the spiral rolls tightly and slices cleanly.
- Swiss is classic for Cuban sandwiches, but mozzarella melts beautifully too.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions for the Crispy Cuban Sandwich Rice Paper Spiral
High heat and airflow. Convection or an air fryer helps evaporate moisture quickly so the rice paper turns crisp instead of chewy.
Yes. You can make a ham and cheese version, or use leftover pulled pork or rotisserie chicken.
Swiss is the classic Cuban sandwich cheese. Mozzarella works well too because it melts smoothly and helps bind the spiral together.
You can assemble the spiral in advance and refrigerate it for a few hours before baking. Bake just before serving so the rice paper stays crisp.
Soooooo much! I love rice paper. If you're into this one, check out my chicken parm rice paper spiral, my big mac rice paper spiral, pepperoni pizza rice paper spiral, cheeseburger spring rolls...the list goes on.
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