Nuevo Cubano

Yum! I don't know if these were easy or not, but they were good. D added a jalapeno to the black beans. I can see adding an avocado as well.

We had with black bean salad. Will have again.

Nuevo Cubano

Photo by ALB

YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

Ingredients
4 (3-ounce) whole-wheat sub rolls, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 pound thinly sliced reduced-sodium deli ham
1 peeled mango or 2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 pound thinly sliced provolone cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Preparation
1. Hollow out top and bottom halves of bread, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell; reserve torn bread for another use.
2. Combine cilantro, lime juice, chili powder, garlic, and black beans in a food processor; process until almost smooth and spreadable, adding a few drops of water, if necessary. Spread bean mixture evenly on bottom halves of the prepared rolls. Layer rolls evenly with ham, mango or tomatoes, and provolone cheese; replace top halves of rolls.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add 2 sandwiches to pan; place a cast-iron or other heavy skillet on top of sandwiches; press gently. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until sandwiches are golden brown (leave cast-iron skillet on sandwiches while they cook). Remove sandwiches from pan; repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 2 sandwiches.

Mark Bittman, Cooking Light
AUGUST 2010

Nutritional Information

Calories: 436; Fat: 19.9g (Saturated fat: 6.7g; Monounsaturated fat: 7.9g; Polyunsaturated fat: 3g); Protein: 24.3g; Carbohydrate: 44.6g; Fiber: 7.2g; Cholesterol: 32mg; Iron: 3.5mg; Sodium: 792mg; Calcium: 328mg