Bocaditos de Pasta de Jamón
El Desayuno y La Merienda: Mornings & The Afternoon Respite
Three-thirty in the afternoon hits, the food processor whirs, and pimientos meet a block of cream cheese, a snack born when 1960s exiles in Miami took government rations of the cheese and canned meat and willed them into a perfect replica of the elegant island party spreads they had left behind. This simple pureed ham paste spread on soft rolls requires no culinary gymnastics, just the patience to let it chill. Pulse it in minutes, smear it thick, and eat it standing at the counter.
Before you start
Bring the cream cheese fully to room temperature before blending.
Cold cream cheese will break or become lumpy when mixed with the mayonnaise and ham, completely ruining the smooth, commercial-bakery texture you are trying to achieve.
Ingredients
- cooked ham1 lb
- cream cheese8 oz
- mayonnaise1/2 cup
- jarred roasted red peppers1/2 cup
- roasted red pepper liquid1 tbsp
- sweet gherkin pickles1/4 cup
- Dijon mustard1 tsp
- black pepper1/4 tsp
- Hawaiian sweet rolls24 small
Method
- 01
Pulse the chopped ham in a food processor until it forms small, uniform crumbles.
If using a standard blender instead of a food processor, work in small batches to avoid stalling the motor.
- 02
Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, red peppers, pepper liquid, pickles, mustard, and black pepper, then blend on high for one to two minutes.
Stop halfway to scrape down the sides. The paste will look somewhat loose, like a thick, pale pink cake batter, which is exactly right.
- 03
Transfer the paste to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least one hour.
This is the most critical step of the recipe. As the mixture chills, the fats in the pork and cream cheese re-solidify, transforming a loose emulsion into a thick, luxurious spread that won't ruin the bread.
- 04
Spread a generous layer of the cold paste onto the bottom half of each sweet roll.
Use about two tablespoons per roll, then gently replace the tops without pressing down too hard so the filling doesn't squeeze out the sides. Serve immediately with a hot cup of café con leche.
Notes
Spam is a historically accurate and culturally revered substitute for the deli ham in this dish.
Exiles arriving at Miami's Freedom Tower built this recipe using their allotted government rations, cementing canned pork as a deeply authentic option that honors the diaspora experience.
From Cook Cuban in America.