Mojo Pork With Sweet Plantains Recipes

SHEET PAN MOJO CHICKEN AND PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Combine the orange juice, lime juice, smashed garlic, jalapeno, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. Puree until combined, then let sit 5 minutes. Turn the blender back on and slowly pour in 1/2 cup olive oil. Remove 1/4 cup of the mixture and set aside for the marinade. Add the mint and parsley to the remaining mixture in the blender and puree again until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper. Place in a large bowl and add the reserved 1/4 cup marinade, the minced garlic, cumin and oregano. Rub all over the chicken until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 450˚ F. Let the chicken come to room temperature while the oven preheats. Toss the plantains and red onion on a rimmed baking sheet with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Spread out on the baking sheet. Nestle the chicken, skin-side up, and orange slices among the plantains and onion.
• Roast until the plantains are tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Remove the plantains to a cutting board and stand them up on a cut side. Flatten the plantains with the bottom of a measuring cup or ramekin, then return to the baking sheet, setting them flat in the pan juices.
• Return the pan to the oven and roast until the chicken is browned, crisp and cooked through, 20 to 25 more minutes. Sprinkle with chopped mint and parsley; serve with the sauce.

MOJO PORK CHOPS WITH PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Cut a 2-inch strip of zest from both the orange and grapefruit; place in a glass bowl. Squeeze 3 tablespoons juice from each fruit into the bowl (set the fruit aside). Whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon oregano, the cumin seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Poke the pork chops with a fork, then add them to the marinade, turning to coat. Set aside for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the mojo sauce: Squeeze 1 tablespoon each orange and grapefruit juice into another bowl; whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, 5 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, garlic and parsley. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste.
• Boil the plantains in a saucepan of salted water, covered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Smash the plantains with a potato masher, drizzling with olive oil and some of the cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
• Heat 2 medium skillets over medium-high heat. Remove the pork from the marinade; pat dry. Brush the chops lightly with some of the mojo sauce; sear until golden and slightly crisp on one side, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook about 3 more minutes. Divide the pork and plantains among plates and drizzle with more mojo sauce.

DANNY'S MOJO PORK

Steps:

• Combine the orange juice, lemon juice, roasted garlic, oregano leaf, salt, pepper, bay leaves and onions, and mix in a large jar with a tight fitting lid. Marinade is best if refrigerated for up to 8 hours and will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Ladle 10 ounces of marinade on top of the Boston butt in a roasting pan and sprinkle the oregano powder on top. Place in the oven and bake uncovered for 10 hours. (Danny likes to prepare his marinade in the morning, allow it to ferment throughout the day and places his Boston Butt in the oven to cook overnight.)