Cuban Mojo Chicken Recipes

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove the chicken giblets. They can be discarded or saved for other preparations like stocks or gravies. Rinse the chicken inside and out and remove any excess fat. Pat dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper (the marinade has salt and pepper as well but a whole chicken needs quite a bit of seasoning).
• In a small bowl, mix all the Cuban Mojo marinade ingredients. Place the chicken in a large bowl and pour the marinade over the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange a rack in the lower third part of the oven.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and place in a large roasting pan. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.
• Bake the chicken for 1 hour. If the breast is getting too golden, tent a piece of aluminum foil over the breast. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh.
• Remove from the oven and tent with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with lemon and lime slices (optional)

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the marinade ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the cilantro is finely chopped.
• Pour the marinade over chicken in a large bowl. Cover with cling wrap and marinate for 12 - 36 hours.

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 350°F
• Add to the food processor, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, lime zest, cumin, oregano, salt, and black ground pepper.
• Process for 10 seconds. You don't want the sauce to become too creamy.
• Add the olive oil and process for 5 seconds, just to combine ever so slightly.
• Add the chicken and chopped onion in a large bowl.
• Pour half of the mojo sauce over the chicken and onions. Cover with cling film, and marinate in the fridge for 3 hours.
• Set aside the remaining half of the mojo sauce for later use.
• When the chicken is done marinating, add chicken and onions the the baking tray, together with the sauce it marinated in.
• Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop up the pineapple, avocado, and cherry tomatoes into small pieces and add them in a small bowl. Mix in the remaining half of Mojo sauce you saved earlier. Your salsa is ready!
• Drizzle pineapple-avocado salsa over baked chicken, serve with steamed rice and beans, and enjoy!

CUBAN-STYLE SLOW COOKER MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine fruit juices, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, cumin, pepper flakes, coriander, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Pulse several times until mixture is well blended and smooth.
• Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour juice mixture over all, cover, and cook on High setting until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 2 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Shred cooked chicken with two forks, adding a little liquid from the slow cooker, if desired. If serving as a main dish, remove chicken to a plate, cover, and keep warm.
• Strain liquid into a 1-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl and stir until there are no lumps. Add cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, stirring continuously. Allow mixture to boil about 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat when the sauce is thickened. Adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve whole chicken breasts with sauce, if desired.

CUBAN-STYLE GRILLED MOJO CHICKEN WITH GREENS, AVOCADOS AND MANGOES

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Whisk vegetable oil, orange juice, orange peel, honey and soy sauce in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Make chicken:
• Stir cumin seeds in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until seeds are fragrant and slightly darker in color, about 2 minutes. Transfer seeds to medium bowl. Add minced garlic, minced chili and salt to seeds; mash mixture with back of fork to form coarse paste. Heat olive oil in same skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Pour hot olive oil over garlic mixture; stir to blend. Let stand 15 minutes. Whisk in orange juice and lime juice. Pour marinade into 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish and cool. Add chicken to marinade; turn to cnd cool. Add chicken to marinade; turn to coat. Cover chicken and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
• Combine mangoes and avocados in medium bowl. Add 6 tablespoons dressing and toss to coat.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Grill chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to work surface. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut each chicken piece crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices.
• Place lettuces in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat thoroughly. Season to taste with salt and pepper; mound lettuces on 6 plates. Arrange 1 sliced chicken piece atop lettuces on each plate. Spoon mangoes and avocados alongside chicken. Sprinkle salads with cashews. Serve, passing any remaining dressing separately.

TRADITIONAL CUBAN RECIPE: CUBAN MOJO (CUBAN MARINADE)

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.