This Cuban mojo marinade is made with garlic, sour orange, olive oil and herbs, great for marinating fish, chicken, or pork, or as a garlicky mojo sauce!
Hanging out in Florida always inspires me to seek out Cuban food. There are a few places we like to visit for some authentic Cuban cuisine, though I also enjoying making it at home.
In Florida, it is easier to find sour orange juice than back home, and when I have bitter oranges, I want Cuban Mojo Sauce.
What is Cuban Mojo?
Mojo is a traditional Cuban sauce that also doubles as a marinade. The essential components for making Cuban mojo are garlic, sour orange juice, oregano, and salt. Oil is usually added, as is onion and black pepper.
The flavor is potent and vibrant with a distinctive garlic punch, perfect for bringing a tangy freshness to your meals.
There are many ways to use it, either as a marinade or a sauce. I think you'll love it now matter how you use it.
Let's talk about how to make mojo marinade (mojo sauce).
Cuban Mojo Ingredients
- Garlic Cloves. You'll use a lot of garlic for this recipe. It is meant to be a garlicky marinade or sauce.
- Onion. Optional, for extra body and flavor.
- Sour Orange Juice. Or use a combination of freshly squeezed orange juice and fresh lime juice. Lemon juice can be used.
- Seasonings. Oregano, cumin, salt and black pepper.
- Olive Oil. Lard is often used, but olive oil is more common in home kitchens. You can omit oil if using as a marinade for fattier proteins, like roast pork.
How to Make Cuban Mojo (Mojo Marinade or Mojo Sauce)
Make the Garlic Paste. Add the garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper to a food processor and process to form a paste. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle (or molcajete) to grind by hand.
Make the Vinaigrette. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sour orange juice and olive oil until it thickens.
Combine to Make the Mojo. Stir in the seasoned garlic paste until well combined.
Taste and Adjust. Adjust with salt and pepper and serve.
Boom! Done! Looks great, doesn't it? Such a wonderful recipe. It is tasty stuff, truly. I like to use this a few different ways, as either a marinade, a sauce, or a vinaigrette.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Can't find sour orange? Use a mix of lemon juice, lime juice, and orange juice as a substitute.
- Skip the oil if you're basting or marinating a fattier protein, like roast pork, which already has plenty of fat. However, oil is key for marinating leaner meats to help seal in the moisture.
- Add a spicy chili pepper to the mix when you make the garlic paste for a spicy mojo marinade or sauce. This is not traditional, but great for spicy food lovers.
How to Use Cuban Mojo
There are several ways you can use Cuban mojo to add a powerful garlic-citrus punch to your dishes.
The Perfect Cuban Mojo Marinade
Cuban mojo is ideal for marinating fish or other seafood, pork, chicken, or vegetables. I love it for mojo shrimp. Marinate seafood or vegetables for 1 hour, then grill or cook as desired.
For proteins like chicken, pork, or steak, marinate at least 2-3 hours, though overnight is better for flavor penetration.
Cuban Mojo Sauce (Mojo Criollo)
Cuban mojo is great served as a garlicky sauce. You can serve it as-is, or gently warm it in a saucepan before serving.
It's perfect as a simple dipper for fried yuca, or a sauce that you can spoon over meats and sandwiches. Think pulled or Cuban roast pork, shredded beef, grilled chicken. Any and all of these will soak in the flavor that is mojo sauce.
Mojo Vinaigrette
Toss chopped or shave vegetables together with leafy greens for a wonderfully garlicky salad dressing. It will bring a lot of life and flavor to your light salad.
Storage Information
Store your Cuban mojo in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Do not save any leftover mojo that you've used for marinating.
You can freeze Cuban mojo in freezer bags for 3 months. To use it, thaw the mojo in the refrigerator, then use as desired. Note that some ingredients like fresh herbs or garlic may lose their flavor or texture when frozen.
Try Some of These Other Popular Recipes
Looking for more flavorful marinade recipes? Try my awesome shrimp marinade, the best pork marinade ever, or this easy carne asada marinade that is huge on flavor.
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Cuban Mojo Marinade Recipe (Mojo Sauce)
Ingredients
- 10 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon oregano (dried can be used)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup sour orange juice (or use equal parts orange and lime juice)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Add the garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper to a food processor and process to form a paste. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle (or molcajete) to grind by hand.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sour orange juice and olive oil until it thickens.
- Stir in the seasoned garlic paste until well combined.
- Adjust with salt and pepper and use as needed.
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 1/30/23 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 2/22/17.
Ann says
I lived in Miami for a couple of years and had many Cubano friends. I was talking with Carlos (Sugar Bear) one day about Cuban food and heat. We'd only gone out at lunch to local restaurants, no cooking involved. "Typically, you don't find it," he says, "but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist!" So on to mojo criollo with habanero, at my suggestion and he agreed. "Every family, every individual has different tastes so it makes sense there are those that like the heat!" Carlos did. Marinated habanero mojo criolla chicken leg quarters on the grill...amazing, and with a side of his "special" lime habanero rice to highlight the heat. Thanks, Carlos! RIP
ann says
Just for context, that interaction was over 30 years ago.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Ann. Yes, Cuban food is not known for it's heat (flavor for sure), but yep, doesn't mean it can't be spiced up! Thanks for sharing this.
Stefan says
How long does it keep in the fridge?
Mike Hultquist says
Store your Cuban mojo in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
Brooke Fox says
Thanks, Mike. I continue to appreciate your work and recipes.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Brooke!
Jérémie says
I heard out about bitter oranges here, and, so far, I've replaced them with a plain orange and lime mix.
Having finally found real bitter oranges, and simultaneous seeing this Mojo sauce recipe, it was obvious that this coincidence has to give rise to a meeting: I marinated chicken in mojo sauce (with a ghost pepper pepper addition), with Cuban Style Black Beans and rice: it was a moment of great pleasure, thanks to you, Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
It's wonderful, isn't it, Jérémie? Perfect use! Very glad you enjoyed it.
anthony miskowiec says
Mike , I tried this last night and it was delicious. I marinated shrimp. Here in Phoenix I have an abundance of free bitter oranges that I juice and keep jars in the refrigerator. I found it makes great margaritas with a touch of simple syrup. I also used bitter orange in the marinade for your pollo asada recipe. that was fantastic. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Mike Hultquist says
Sounds WONDERFUL, Anthony. Definitely jealous of your bitter orange source. Patty would LOVE the fresh margaritas. I love it. Thanks for sharing.
Kynthia says
you can order Seville orange juice from Amazon. I use it when making conchanita pibil. works great.
Mike Hultquist says
Yes!! Perfection! Thanks, Kynthia.
Judy Pennington says
There was a photo of the mojo with shrimp on a bed of something, but couldn't find a recipe for it. I love shrimp!
Mike Hultquist says
Judy, I haven't written up that recipe yet, but hope to get it on the site soon. It's Mojo Marinated Shrimp With Chili-Sweet Potato Couscous. So good! Really just marinate your shrimp for 10 minutes in the mojo marinade, then sear the shrimp until cooked through.
Dale Burns says
I lived in key west Florida from 1987 to 1995 and was absolutely addicted to the food down there Cuban in particular. This MOJO sauce recipe is just as good if not better than the sauces and recipes I learned in key west from some older Cuban ladies and there mothers. Absolutely delicious, great sauce. 5 stars.
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Thanks, Dale. I know, I am addictive to this. I greatly appreciate it!
Cuban Girl says
Your recipe sounds great! But most Cubans don't use any spice. My grandparents don't even like black pepper. It's too spicy for them. I will definitely try this recipe because growing up in the US has caused me to love spice! 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Cuban Girl. I talk about that a bit in the Recipe Variations section, where the spices are more common with Cubans living in the U.S., like yourself! I appreciate it!