Cuban Mojo Sauce or Marinade
Ingredients
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed (see notes)
- ¼ cup lime juice, freshly squeezed (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/3 olive oi
Instructions
Method #1 Mortar and Pestle (molcajete)
- In a mortar and pestle, place the minced garlic and ½ teaspoon salt. Mash until you create a smooth paste.
Method #2 Cutting board
- After mincing the garlic on your cutting board, sprinkle it with salt. Combine both ingredients, and smash them together with the back of a chef’s knife or with the back of a spoon. Try to break down the garlic into a paste. It may not be as smooth as when using a mortar and pestle and that is just fine!
- Transfer the garlic mixture to a jar or mixing bowl. Add the garlic, black pepper, orange juice and lime juice, oregano, cumin and olive oil. If using a jar, close the lid tightly and shake the ingredients together until well combined, or if using a bowl, whisk the ingredients together until well combined. You can taste and adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Store in a jar or airtight container for 2 weeks, shaking well before every use.
Notes
- Use ¾ cup sour orange juice instead of orange juice and lime juice if available.
- If you prefer a milder garlic flavor, use 4 to 5 garlic cloves instead of 8.
- The mojo should taste bright, citrusy, a little tart, garlicky, and well seasoned.
- If the mojo tastes too sweet, add more lime juice or a little lemon juice.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Shake well before each use.Instead of a combination of orange juice and lime juice, you can use ¾ cup of sour orange if available.
- If you are not a big fan of garlic, reduce the amount to 4-5 cloves.
- The mojo should taste bright, citrusy, a bit tart, garlicky and well seasoned.
- If your mojo turns out too sweet (sometimes oranges are very sweet) add more lime juice (or lemon juice).
Nutrition
Calories: 125 kcal, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0.2 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4 g, Sodium: 1172 mg, Potassium: 482 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 13 g, Vitamin A: 313 IU, Vitamin C: 89 mg, Calcium: 98 mg, Iron: 2 mg
