Yuca con mojo is the perfect dish if you’re a big fan of everything garlicky. This side dish is a staple of Cuban cuisine that everyone with a garlic obsession (like me) will appreciate.
Yuca con mojo is a Cuban side dish primarily made using yuca, pickled onions, citrus juice, and a significant amount of garlic. The name literally translates to ‘yuca with sauce.’ Basically, you boil yuca before cooking it in a pan with onions and a special sauce.If you’re interested in discovering how yuca con mojo tastes, this article will show you how to prepare it at home. Here’s a hint, it’s super easy!
What Is Yuca Con Mojo?
Yuca con mojo is a famous Cuban dish with boiled yuca roots (also known as American tapioca cassava or manioc) as the main ingredient. It has a delicious garlic and citrus taste and is very filling.
The Yuca root has numerous health benefits and is very popular in Caribbean cuisine and some African and Asian cuisines.
Yuca is known among the people who know it as the “better white potato,” which is a description that can tell you a lot about it.
However, it’s the Cuban recipe that we’re interested in right now.
Yuca con mojo stands out for its unique taste, making it a must-have Cuban dish if you enjoy citrus and garlic.
The mojo (sauce) part of yuca con mojo gives this dish its one-of-a-kind flavor.
Not to be confused with the mojito drink that characterizes Latin beverages that accompany the spicy sauce.
Typical mojo sauce is made with basic ingredients of olive oil, garlic, onion, oregano, and bitter orange or lime juice.
If you’re interested in other recipes with yuca, check out my blog.
Now, let’s find out how you can make this special staple of Cuban cuisine…
How To Prepare Yuca Con Mojo
Yuca con mojo’s preparation includes two primary steps.
After boiling the yuca until they’re tender, you’ll fry some onions in a pan with olive oil before mixing them with the whole set of ingredients in a bowl.
Ingredients
To prepare yuca con mojo, you need these ingredients:
- 2 lb (1 kilo) of peeled yuca, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces (fresh or frozen yuca)
- 1 or 2 red onions (according to your taste)
- ⅓ cup (60 ml) of White vinegar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) of lime juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) of orange juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fresh chopped cilantro
- 6/8 cloves of minced garlic
- ¼ cup (60 ml) of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of cumin
- Salt to the taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to the taste
- And citrus fruit peel for garnish
Directions
Once you gather the ingredients, all you need to do is follow these 7 simple steps, and you’re good to go.
Nothing can beat the yuca con mojo of a Cuban Abuelita; however, following this formula should give you similar results.
- Fill a large pot with salted water. Add the yuca, and bring it to a boil over high heat.
- Continue boiling for approximately 30 minutes. The yuca should be tender when ready.
- Meanwhile, slice and peel the onions. Place them in vinegar to pickle while the yuca is boiling (for 25 minutes or so). After draining them, save some of the vinegar for later.
- Using a medium saucepan over high heat, saute the onions in olive oil, adding oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Let the onions cook until soft before adding more vinegar. Allow them to cook for an additional minute.
- Remove the yuca from the heat when it’s tender, and let it sit in its water until you’re ready to mix it with the other ingredients.
- Pour your lime juice into a bowl and add cilantro and garlic.
- When ready to serve your yuca con mojo, toss the drained, tender-boiled yuca roots in the bowl with the other ingredients, and add the hot onions.
- Add more salt and black pepper. And don’t forget to garnish the yuca con mojos with citrus peel for that additional punch.
Here’s a YouTube video of the whole process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn8Pznx9KrY
Yuca con Mojo Servings Suggestions
Here are a few traditional Cuban dishes that make for a great pairing with yuca con mojo;
- Ropa Vieja: Serve Yuca con Mojo alongside this classic shredded beef dish, which features tender meat cooked in a rich tomato sauce.
- Lechon Asado: Enhance the flavor of slow-roasted Cuban-style pork by pairing it with Yuca con Mojo, creating a delightful contrast of textures.
- Arroz Congri: Combine Yuca con Mojo with this flavorful Cuban rice and black beans dish for a satisfying and well-balanced meal.
- Picadillo: Pair Yuca con Mojo with this savory ground beef dish cooked with tomatoes, green olives, and raisins, for a unique twist on a traditional Cuban meal.
Final Words on Yuca con Mojo
That’s how you can make your own yuca con mojo at home.
It’s a fantastic meal because of its unique combination of garlicky and citrusy flavors. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as I do.
And if you can’t get enough of yuca, check out my article on 7 Other Savory Yuca Dishes You Can Make With Ease.
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.