Description
Yuca con Mojo is a traditional Cuban side dish featuring tender boiled yuca root drenched in a zesty garlic sauce made with fresh citrus juices, red onions, and aromatic spices, creating a flavorful and vibrant accompaniment for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Yuca
- 1 ½ pounds yuca, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
Mojo Sauce
- 1 to 2 large red onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, plus zest for garnish (from half an orange)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped, plus leaves for garnish
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all the ingredients including yuca, red onions, citrus juices, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, and spices.
- Cook Yuca: Boil the peeled and chunked yuca in salted water until it becomes tender, approximately 30 minutes. Drain it thoroughly once cooked.
- Prepare Serving Dish: Place the cooked yuca into a serving dish and keep it warm by covering; do not let it cool to room temperature while preparing the sauce.
- Make Mojo Sauce: In a bowl, combine the thinly sliced red onions, fresh orange juice, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and minced garlic. Pour this mixture over the warm yuca in the serving dish.
- Heat Oil and Spices: In a heavy pan, heat the olive oil along with dried oregano, ground cumin, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper for about 1 minute, making sure not to burn the spices.
- Finish the Dish: Pour the hot spiced oil over the yuca and mojo sauce. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves and a sprinkle of orange zest as desired before serving.
Notes
- Yuca con mojo is a classic Cuban dish that highlights the mild and starchy yuca root complemented by bright citrus and robust garlic flavors.
- This side pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, beans, or rice dishes common in Cuban cuisine.
- Keep the yuca warm after boiling to allow the garlic sauce to meld well with the hot root.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and citrus juices to your taste preference for a more pungent or zestier mojo sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 439 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 101 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 76 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
