Cuban Medianoche Sandwich

Ingredients

• For the pork:
• 1 pork tenderloin, trimmed of silver skin and excess fat
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons juice from 1 orange
• 1 tablespoon juice from 1 to 2 limes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• For the sandwiches:
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 4 sweet rolls, split in half lengthwise
• 8 slices deli ham
• 32 dill or bread-and-butter pickle chips
• 8 thin slices Swiss cheese

Directions

1. For the pork, set an oven rack in the upper-middle spot and heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Use a knife to make small pokes across the pork tenderloin, then sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Set the pork on the baking sheet.
2. Put the garlic in a small bowl or teacup and add the olive oil; the garlic should be fully submerged. Warm it in the microwave for 45 seconds. Scrape the garlic oil into a medium bowl, then whisk in the orange juice and lime juice along with the oregano and cumin.
3. Spoon the garlic mixture onto the pork, working it into the knife holes. Roast until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Move the pork to a cooling rack and let it cool completely, about 30 minutes. You can make the pork 1 day ahead and chill it in an airtight container. Slice it thinly.
4. For the sandwiches, stir 2 tablespoons butter with the mustard in a small bowl. Coat the inside faces of the rolls with that butter-mustard mixture, dividing it evenly.
5. Build each sandwich by arranging pork on the bottom halves, then adding 2 slices ham, 8 pickle chips, 2 slices cheese, and the tops of the rolls. Rub the outside of the rolls with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
6. Set the sandwiches over medium heat and cook, leaning on them with a spatula, until the bread turns crisp and golden, about 4 minutes on each side. If you are using a panini press instead, preheat it as directed by the manufacturer, then cook the sandwiches until they are crisp and golden.
7. Give the sandwiches about 2 minutes to settle before you serve them.