Treat your taste buds to Cuban Mojo Chicken!
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven (yes, even with central A/C), it’s time to grill. If I get the meat marinated, my hubby will do the honors, leaving me time to make a few sides. When temperatures soar, one of my go-to dishes is mojo chicken. A Cuban marinade, mojo relies on tropical citrus fruit, garlic, and earthy cumin. While it’s used as a marinade in this recipe, mojo sauces are popular throughout the Caribbean in many different preparations.
In Cuba, the citrus star of mojo is the sour Seville orange. Its juice and zest provide a super tart flavor to the marinade base. Here, in the States, if you can’t find this variety of orange, the common navel orange will do. Their taste is quite sweet, but the added tartness of the lime juice balances this out.
You will love mojo chicken because it elevates grilled chicken from good to amazing. The intense marinade imparts incredible flavor, while the acidity ensures moist, juicy results. Plus, with a marinade like this, you can mix it up, place the chicken in it, set it in the fridge, and leave it overnight. The final step is just the grill, so it’s actually a great recipe for prepping ahead. And while mojo chicken is delightful as the main attraction for dinner, with sides like rice and salad, you can also use it as the base for other dishes. It’s amazing in quesadillas with mango salsa or as the protein atop an entrée salad.
On Shallots
One of the marinade ingredients is a shallot. If you haven’t cooked with shallots before, you might be stumped. Shallots are in the same allium family as onions, garlic, and leeks. Petite and teardrop-shaped or elongated with tapered ends, they have a light-brown or coppery skin. In your grocery store, look for them in the onion section. Once you peel away the outer papery husk, you will notice they have a slight pink or lavender shade. As for flavor, they’re milder and sweeter than onions, with a more subtle aroma. Can’t find shallots for this recipe? Substitute with a quarter of a sweet onion.
How To Make Ahead And Store
This recipe is great for making ahead, as it benefits from marinating overnight. Once cooked and cooled, leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days or in Ziploc bags in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before gently reheating in a 350-degree-Fahrenheit oven for about 8-10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Mojo chicken is best served with rice. For instance, this Baked Rice is super easy as a side, and you can sprinkle a little chopped cilantro on it for added complementary flavor. And what’s rice without beans? Try Refried Beans and substitute with black beans for a different flavor. Our family also enjoys tortilla chips and Corn Salsa as a side. Finally, what’s a meal without dessert? Cool, creamy Baked Flan is a lovely contrast to the zesty flavors of mojo chicken.
Mojo Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 medium shallot roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 2 teaspoons grated lime zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- In a blender, combine garlic, shallot, salt, orange zest, lime zest, cumin, oregano, black pepper, orange juice, lime juice, and olive oil. Blend until smooth to create the mojo marinade.
- Place chicken thighs in a large resealable bag or bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well-coated. Seal or cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates. Remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off.
- Grill the chicken for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
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