A pressed sandwich lives or dies on the layers: salty ham, roast pork that stays juicy, cheese that actually melts into every corner, and enough pickle and mustard bite to cut through it all. This week’s recipe builds the whole stack from one deli case — Dietz & Watson.
The Cubano is the sandwich-station star of the Dietz & Watson line at Merchants Market: Virginia Brand ham, sliced (12 × 7 oz, SKU 0814610) and Swiss cheese, sliced (12 × 8 oz, SKU 3018210), with the crunch and the bite coming from the same case — kosher pickle chips (12 × 32 oz, SKU 3205690) and Dietz & Watson yellow mustard (12 × 12 oz, SKU 4403450). One trick runs the whole build: cheese against the bread on both sides. It’s the glue that holds every layer together when the press comes down.
The Recipe: Island Pressed Cubano
SERVES: 4
CUISINE: CARIBBEAN
CATEGORY: SANDWICHES, DELI & PRESSED
Ingredients
The sandwich
- 4 Cuban rolls (or soft hoagie rolls), split
- 8 slices Dietz & Watson Virginia Brand ham (about 12 oz)
- 8 slices Dietz & Watson Swiss cheese
- 12 oz sliced roast pork (house pernil-style roast pork works perfectly)
- Dietz & Watson kosher pickle chips, drained
- Dietz & Watson yellow mustard
- Soft butter or oil, for the outside of the bread
Directions
- Build in this order on the bottom half of each roll: a slice of Swiss, the ham, the roast pork, pickle chips in a single layer, then the second slice of Swiss on top. Spread mustard on the top half of the roll and close the sandwich. Cheese on both faces is the glue — don’t skip the second slice.
- Lightly butter or oil the outside of the rolls.
- Press on a hot sandwich press or flat-top with a weight on top, 3–4 minutes per side, until the crust is crisp and crackling and the cheese runs to the edges.
- Rest 1 minute, then cut on the diagonal and serve hot.
That’s the whole trick: layer it right, press it crisp. The mustard and pickles cut the richness, the double Swiss seals the stack so nothing slides on the cut, and the diagonal shows off every layer your customer is paying for.
One Deli Case, Half Your Menu
If the Cubano runs your sandwich station, the Dietz & Watson case list in the 2026 show book covers the rest of the week:
- Deli cheeses — Muenster block (12 × 8 oz), Colby Jack block (12 × 8 oz), mozzarella block (12 × 8 oz) and Monterey Jack sticks (12 × 8 oz)
- Wedges & specialty — smoked Gouda wedge (10 × 7.6 oz), feta block (12 × 7 oz), blue cheese wedge (12 × 6 oz) and Gouda cake cut (12 × 7 oz)
- Cheesesteak sausages — beef Philly cheesesteak (16 × 12 oz) and chicken Buffalo cheesesteak (16 × 12 oz)
- Charcuterie — Italian charcuterie shipper (36 × 8 oz)
Stock It While the Show Allowance Runs
Now is the time to put a case on your next order: the Dietz & Watson show allowance is $2.40 back per case, valid through February 2027 — on every one of the 21 Dietz & Watson lines in the 2026 show book.
Ask your Merchants Market sales rep to add Dietz & Watson to your next order, or order anytime through the Order Online portal.
