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This croqueta preparada sandwich is made with ham, swiss, pickles, ham croquettes, and garlic butter. A Cuban-pressed sandwich that is loaded with flavor and super easy to make!
WHAT IS A CROQUETA PREPARADA?
The Croqueta Preparada is a variation of the Cuban sandwich. It begins with Cuban bread, which is generously spread with mustard or butter. Layers of pickles, Swiss cheese, smoked ham, and ham croquetas. Finally, the sandwich is brushed with butter and grilled on a panini-style grill.
Although I made this sandwich with homemade croquetas de jamon, feel free to use store-bought croquetas. You can find them at your local grocery store in the Hispanic frozen foods section, or at a Cuban bakery. For more of my favorite Cuban recipes, check out this crockpot Cuban picadillo, congri, and Cuban red beans.
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Bread – If you live near a Cuban bakery I highly recommend buying a loaf of Cuban bread to make this sandwich. I unfortunately don’t live near one so I used regular Italian bread.
- Ham Croquettes aka Croquetas de Jamon – Homemade or store-bought works for this recipe.
- Pickles – Optional but adds great flavor!
- Ham – Any type of thinly sliced ham will work. I used domestic ham.
- Swiss – Although Swiss cheese is traditional when making croqueta preparada, you may use your favorite cheese.
- Butter – If using unsalted butter, make sure to add a pinch of salt.
TOP TIPS
- I’m not a huge fan of mustard on my sandwiches, but feel free to add it for extra flavor!
- Not a fan of garlic butter? Add mayo instead!
- I recommend frying the ham croquettes right before assembling the sandwich. This will ensure that they are hot and crispy when added to the sandwich.
- Make sure to really press the sandwich while it’s in the panini grill for best results.
- Don’t have a panini machine? Heat the sandwich in a small skillet on the stovetop and use a heavy plate to press the sandwich. This will help to flatten and toast the sandwich.
STORAGE
These sandwiches are best when fresh, but if you have any leftovers, wrap them in aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the panini grill until heated through.
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Croqueta Preparada
Equipment
- Panini Grill
Ingredients
- ½ loaf Cuban bread or Italian bread
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 8 slices ham
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 croquetas de jamon, or store-bought
- pickles
- canola oil, for frying croquetas
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter and minced garlic. Mix until well combined. If using unsalted butter, season with salt.
- Heat your oil to 350 degrees F. and deep fry the croquetas for 3 minutes.
- While the croquetas are frying, it's the perfect time to assemble the sandwiches. Start by generously spreading garlic butter on each slice of bread. Then, layer the sandwiches with four slices of ham, two slices of Swiss cheese, two slices of pickles, and two croquetas.
- Brush the outside of the bread with garlic butter as well.
- Add some butter to the panini grill, place the sandwiches on it, and press them down. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Enjoy!
Notes
- I’m not a huge fan of mustard on my sandwiches, but feel free to add it for extra flavor!
- Not a fan of garlic butter? Add mayo instead!
- I recommended frying the ham croquettes right before assembling the sandwich. This will ensure that they are hot and crispy when added to the sandwich.
- Make sure to really press the sandwich while it’s in the panini grill for best results.
- Don’t have a panini machine? Heat the sandwich in a small skillet on the stovetop and use a heavy plate to press the sandwich. This will help to flatten and toast the sandwich.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
