Anyone who has had Cuban bread before, either as a sandwich or a side to a soup, knows that very few other breads compare to the delicacy that is Cuban bread.
Traditionally, Cuban bread is used specifically to make a Cuban sandwich (which is essentially just a ham and cheese sandwich). Though the texture and taste of the bread are so moreish that Cuban bread is also often used to liven up other classic sandwich combinations.
If you happen to come across a bakery that makes Cuban bread outside of Cuba, the chances are that they do not follow an authentic recipe. After all, traditional Cuban bread recipes lack preservatives, so it does not last very long once baked.
Our 3 Substitutes for Cuban Bread
The outer crust of Cuban bread is very thin but extremely crunchy, producing a satisfying cracking brad sound when bitten into. In contrast, the inside of the bread is light and soft – the perfect example of everything that bread should be.
Cuban bread uses all-white bread flour and follows a pretty basic bread recipe with a few extra ingredients for flavour.
Sugar and salt help to activate the yeast, while the use of lard provides a heavier taste that helps to make plain sandwich flavours seem more complex and luxurious.
Here are our top 3 substitutes for Cuban bread:
1) Baguette
A baguette is just a French take on Cuban bread but is better suited to sub-sandwiches than loaf sandwiches like Cuban bread simply because of its shape.
Baguettes are shaped to be long and thin. Though they remain thick enough that they can still develop a crust that crisps up when cooked while still preserving a fluffy centre.
The only real difference between a French baguette and Cuban bread is the lack of lard. However, instead of taking away from your sandwich, the lack of lard in baguettes allows you to try richer sandwich fillings.
Are Supermarket Baguettes Worth Buying?
If your supermarket sells fresh baguettes, then they are probably very delicious. But if you can, try and find a real bakery that sells baguettes for the most authentic bread experience.
2) Ciabatta
Arguably, few bread loaves can beat ciabatta when it comes to making the perfect sandwich purely for its shape alone.
You can simply slice through the middle of the loaf, pile in your sandwich fillings, and have a delicious sandwich ready in seconds. The shape and size of ciabatta loaves are traditionally very similar to Cuban bread and they are even easier to make at home.
Like Cuban bread, ciabatta develops a light bread and crisp outer layer.
Though the outer crust is noticeably thicker than that of Cuban bread, which may alter the overall texture of your sandwich slightly.
How Long Does Ciabatta Take to Cook?
Because of the thicker crust, ciabatta takes a little longer than Cuban bread to bake. But few ciabatta recipes will exceed 40 minutes in the oven.
3) Anadama
The thing to remember when using anadama bread as a Cuban bread substitute is that the trick is in the filling, not the bread.
Many people do not like the unique taste of Anadama bread.
Several strongly flavoured flours and binding agents are used to give Anadama bread a dense texture. Some of these ingredients include rye flour and also molasses.
This results in a very yeasty but equally sweet loaf, which seems like an odd combination but makes a perfect blend for every kind of filing traditionally saved for Cuban bread sandwiches.
Can You Use Honey Instead of Molasses?
If you want to try making your own Anadama bread, you may have difficulty finding molasses. Honey can work instead but will not be as thick or sweet, resulting in a bread that will be close in texture to Cuban bread.
Other Substitutes for Cuban Bread
Many of the above breads are classed as artisan bread. They are not only harder to find in your local supermarket but can also cost a fair bit more in an independent bakery. So, here are a few everyday alternatives for Cuban bread:
- White Sandwich Bread Loaf – Considering that Cuban bread recipes are based off of an average white bread recipe, using commercially produced white bread is always a safe choice. Though commercial white bread tends to be sugarier.
- Brioche – As an enriched bread, brioche bread should be used as a sweet treat and not in excess because of the high levels of fat. The extra butter used in brioche prevents a crispy crust from forming on the outside but keeps the inside of the loaf as soft as Cuban bread.
Summary
Though Cuban bread has its own spin on a typical white loaf recipe, the use of all white flour and limited change to other basic bread ingredients mean that most other white flour-based bread can provide a very similar light and crispy loaf. The same mellow flavour is hard to replicate, but a baguette comes close.