TRADITIONAL CUBAN RECIPE: CUBAN MOJO (CUBAN MARINADE)
There are many variations of mojo. It is the signature marinade of Cuba and it finds its way into many varied dishes. After searching through many recipes and cookbooks; I found this in on www.icuban.com and in "Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban" by: three brothers-in-law, Glenn Lindgren, Raul Musibay and Jorge Castillo. Many mojos do not include oil; with or without oil the key element is "sour" orange, an almost bitter orange that grows throughout Cuba and now it flourishes in most Miami backyards. In a pinch use: 2 parts orange juice to 1 part lemon juice and 1 part lime juice. The key to a good mojo is in the proportions; garlic, salt, whole black peppercorns and sour orange juice are it's main ingredients.Update: 04/14/08 add a teaspoon of cumin (if you so desire) there are many recipes that call for it but we don't use it here! I have been using this mojo since I left my mother's house, as we always used it in Cuba and Haiti.:)
Provided by Manami
Categories Lemon
Time 50m
Yield 50-60 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mash garlic, salt and peppercorns, using a mortar and pestle or use food processor.
- Stir in juice.
- Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes or longer at room temperature.
- *If making it without the oil - stop at this point and this makes a perfect marinade for seasoning, chicken, fish, pork &/or beef.
- Continue with preparing the mojo with oil - after you have stirred in juice add onion & oregano.
- Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes or longer at room temperature.
- In a saucepan heat olive oil to medium hot & then remove from heat.
- Whisk oil in garlic-juice mixture, until well blended.
- Stores for at least a week in the refrigerator.
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.
CUBAN MOJO CRIOLLO (MOJO MARINADE RECIPE)
Steps:
- In a mortar and pestle, add the garlic cloves and salt. Mash both until you get a smooth paste.
- In a large mason jar, add the garlic paste, minced onion, black pepper, oregano, cumin, sour orange juice, and olive oil. Close the jar tightly with the lid and shake it until well combined. Be sure to shake well before every use.
- Feel free to taste and adjust seasoning. If you're not a fan of garlic, you can add less (maybe 5 or 6 cloves). This marinade should taste garlicky, fresh, tangy, citrusy, bright, and slightly sour. Never sweet nor spicy.
- This recipe makes approximately 2 cups of mojo marinade which will last approximately up to 3 weeks in an airtight container/mason jar. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 tablespoon, Calories 27 kcal, Carbohydrate 1.8 g, Fat 2.2 g, Sodium 99 mg, Sugar 1 g
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