Pan Cubano (Cuban Bread)

A type of bread that has been a Latin American staple for centuries. Pan Cubano is prepared using bread flour or all-purpose flour and a starter is used as a leaven. It is similar to French bread except that it contains lard and a bit of sugar. The lard creates a rich flavor, but also hastens the drying of the crumb, making Pan Cubano bread more enjoyable the day it is baked. Also known as Cuban bread in English, the bread is used as a base for the Cuban sandwich, which usually contains roast pork and ham, cheese, mustard, and pickles.