Best Cuban Garlic Sauce Mojo Cubano Recipes

MOJO SAUCE MARINADE

Steps:

• Start by taking apart the garlic head into cloves and remove the papery skin. Next, place the garlic cloves and white onion into a food processor or blender and blend into a finely chopped mixture.
• Then, pour the garlic and white onion mixture into a mixing bowl with remaining ingredients. Mix everything well with a whisk or spoon and let the marinade sit for 45 minutes before using or storing inside the refrigerator.

CUBAN GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• NOTE: If you can't find sour orange juice, use 1/2 cup orange juice combined with 1/2 cup lemon juice.
• Crush garlic and salt in a mortar and pestle or in a food processor until it forms a smooth paste. Combine garlic, onion, and orange juice in a bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet, add mixture, and stir for 3 minutes.
• This sauce can be used immediately or stored in refrigerator and reheated.

CUBAN GARLIC SAUCE (MOJO CUBANO)

Steps:

• For the mojo, you will need a large bowl. In a large bowl, pour the sour orange juice or lime juice, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and sliced onion into the bowl and stir.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high for 2 minutes, then when hot, pour olive oil into bowl. Be careful not to get burned, since some of it might splatter out.
• Mix the mojo ingredients, then let sit for 30 minutes.

MOJO CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the mojo marinade: Trim the pork shoulder, removing any excess fat, and tie. Make the mojo marinade by combining the citrus juices and zest, oregano, cilantro, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the garlic and the cumin in a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Place the tied roast into a resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Allow to marinate for 30 to 40 minutes at room temperature. Once marinated, remove from the bag and wipe away any excess liquid. Reserve the marinade.
• For the pork roast: Preheat a 6-quart pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Add the canola oil to the pressure cooker pot and turn to high heat. Sear the roast on all sides. Then add the chicken stock, bay leaves, onions and the reserved marinade. Replace the lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook until the roast is tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Remove the roast, transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Slice thinly.
• For the Cuban sandwiches: Using a serrated knife, halve the Cuban loaves. Begin building the sandwiches. First, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard onto the bread. Add 5 pickle slices, about 3 ounces of ham and a few slices of roasted pork. Top with 2 slices of the cheese. Finish with the top half of the Cuban loaf. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
• To serve: Heat a flat-top griddle pan to medium heat with the olive oil. Place the sandwiches on to the griddle pan and place a weighted cast-iron pan on top to press. Press the sandwiches until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and cut in half. Secure with bamboo skewers and serve immediately.

MOJO DE AJO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan, removing it from the heat just before reaching its smoke point.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and add the hot oil.
• Divide the resulting sauce into previously sterilized glass jars and wait for the mixture to cool before closing the jars tightly and storing in the refrigerator.
• Mojo de ajo is served, for example, with steamed or fried yuca. It is also used as a marinade or garnish for many dishes, especially for fish and seafood.

OUTRAGEOUS CUBAN SANDWICH WITH MOJO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare Mojo sauce and set aside until you are ready to make the sandwiches. Then preheat a griddle or frying pan on medium heat.
• 2. Cut the loaf of bread into quarters and slice each quarter in half lengthwise for the sandwiches.
• 3. Spread the mustard or mayonnaise on the bread. Then make each sandwich by layering the pickles, roasted pork, red onions, ham, and cheese. Spoon the Mojo sauce over the inside of the sandwich.
• 4. Lightly coat the cooking surface of the griddle with butter. Place one sandwich onto the hot surface.
• 5. Put a clean, heavy skillet on top of the sandwich to flatten it. Press the bread down to about 1/3 of it's original size.
• 6. Leave the skillet on top of the sandwich and grill for one or two minutes. Left the heavy skillet, turn the sandwich over and repeat this step for the other side of the sandwich.
• 7. The cheese should be melted and the bread golden brown. Slice the sandwich in half diagonally and serve!
• 8. FOR THE MOJO SAUCE: (Prepare ahead of time because this is going to go inside the sandwich before grilling.) Heat oil in pan. Add garlic and cook over moderate heat stirring until golden. Add juices, salt, pepper, cumin and cook for a couple more minutes until fragrant.
• 9. This step is not actually on the list of "authentic" ingredients but I like to add some chopped cilantro to my sandwich because it gives it yet another burst of flavor to push it over the top! That's just my thing ... and it's a "good thing!." Using marinated red onions would not be a bad thing either! I confess ... I do!

PLATTER OF SHRIMP WITH GARLICKY CUBAN MOJO (FUENTE DE CAMARONES AL AJILLO)

Steps:

• Prepare the mojo
• Make a wet garlic paste by mashing the garlic cloves with salt in a mortar and pestle. If you do not have one, you can use a cup and the back of a wooden spoon; otherwise, simply sprinkle the garlic with the salt and use your knife to chop it very finely into a paste.
• Place the garlic paste in a small bowl and pour the lime juice and orange juice over it. Allow the mixture to sit for 20 minutes.
• Place the olive oil in a small saucepan and set it over medium-high heat. (This can be done on your grill or on your stove.) When small bubbles begin to rise to the surface of the oil, carefully add the garlic and citrus mixture to the pan (the oil will sizzle a bit, so be careful that it does not splatter on you). Give the mixture a quick stir and allow to cook over medium-high heat for 1 minute before removing from the heat. Set aside.
• Season and grill the shrimp
• Place the shrimp in a large mixing bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over them. Liberally season with salt and pepper and toss well. It's best to use your hands for this, as you want to make sure the oil and seasonings get inside the slits you made in the shrimp.
• Heat your grill to high (550°F) and close the lid. Wait at least 15 minutes before lowering the heat to medium-high (450°F) and continuing. Oil the grill grates with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel held with a long pair of tongs.
• It is important to properly place the shrimp on the grill so that they cook quickly and evenly. Again, it is best to use your hands for this. Holding the shrimp by its tail, place the butterflied shrimp on the grill one by one, slit side down. Curl the tail down toward the head of the shrimp. Close the lid and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the flesh of the shrimp has turned white and is no longer translucent. You will not need to turn the shrimp over.
• Serve the shrimp and mojo
• Mound the grilled shrimp on a large platter and garnish with lime wedges. Serve with the garlicky mojo for your guests to use as a dipping sauce.

MOJO DE AJO (CUBAN CITRUS-GARLIC BARBECUE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in deep saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant and pale golden brown. Do not let brown too much, or else garlic will become bitter.
• Stir in sour orange juice (or lime juice and grapefruit juice), water, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Stand back, because the sauce may spatter. Bring to rolling boil. Correct the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper, if needed. Let cool to room temperature, and then stir in cilantro or parsley. Store in bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid; shake well before serving. Serve with grilled pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables.

CUBAN MOJO SAUCE

Steps:

• Blend the garlic, zest, juice, cumin and salt in a blender until the garlic is finely chopped.
• With the machine running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream until emulsified.
• Transfer to a small bowl and season to taste with pepper.
• Stir in the cilantro.
• The mojo can be made up to four days ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.