Plantain Chips With Mojo Food

MOJO SAUCE MARINADE

Steps:

• Start by taking apart the garlic head into cloves and remove the papery skin. Next, place the garlic cloves and white onion into a food processor or blender and blend into a finely chopped mixture.
• Then, pour the garlic and white onion mixture into a mixing bowl with remaining ingredients. Mix everything well with a whisk or spoon and let the marinade sit for 45 minutes before using or storing inside the refrigerator.

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.

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.

CHICHARITAS OR MARIQUITAS (CUBAN PLANTAIN CHIPS)

Steps:

• 1. Pour the oil to a depth of 2 or 3 inches in a deep - fat fryer, a dutch oven or heavy skillet such as cast iron. Heat oil to 350 degrees.
• 2. Peel the plantains, slice lengthwise for Mariquitas or in round chips for chicharitas, as thinly as possible, Using a mandolin if you have one, with the blade at it's thinnest opening. Slide them into the hot oil in small batches. You don't want them to clumb together. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes, turning with a metal skimmer. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and/or mojo. Serve at once.
• 3. Mojo: Heat oil in a deep sauce pan over medium low heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, do not let the garlic get brown or it will be acrid tasting. Add the sour orange juice, cumin, and the salt and pepper. Stand back; the sauce may sputter. Bring to a rolling boil. taste to see if correct seasoning salt if needed.
• 4. Cool before serving. Mojo is best when served within a couple of hours of making, but will keep in the frig for several days, well capped in a jar. When cool sprinkle over your plantain chips. Can be used to flavor Cuban sandwiches, boiled yucca, grilled seafood and meats and of course fried green plantain chips. Note: I prefer to use more lime juice then orange juice, as I like it very tart. I have seen some recipes for Mojo using cilantro in it, but that is not traditional to the Cuban Cuisine. Enjoy
• 5. Above you see the Cuban Chicharitas and Mariquitas. I have also included some green plantains to show how green they should be. Green Plantains can be difficult to peel if you don't know how to do it. Run a sharp steak knife the point only down the seams of the plantain from the top to the bottom. Make sure you stick the point of the knife down to where you can feel the plantain under the peel. After doing this on all the seams take the point of the knife and gently pry up the peel where you cut working the knife gently all along the cut under the peel and prying up the peel as you go down the cut. The peel will give way and come off all in one piece. Then go to the next seam and do the same thing until you have pryed the peel off all the way around the plantain. Then you can go to your mandolin and start slicing. Good Luck

FRIED GREEN PLANTAINS AND GARLIC SAUCE: TOSTONES WITH MOJO

Steps:

• Peel plantains and cut on a diagonal into 3/4-inch thick slices. In a heavy skillet, heat 3/4 cup oil and fry plantain slices until golden brown. Lift slices onto plate or tray to cool, and press with spatula to flatten. Return to hot oil and fry again until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper, and keep warm on a serving plate.
• In small bowl, make mojo by whisking together fresh garlic, sour orange juice, and remaining 1/4 cup oil. Dress each serving of plantains with mojo and serve immediately.

ROPA VIEJA JOSES (CUBAN SLOPPY JOES), SLICED TOMATOES, PLANTAIN CHIPS AND MOJO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the mojo sauce: put the garlic and onion in a food processor with cumin, lemon zest and juice. Turn processor on and stream in about 1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 cup of water. Turn off processor and reserve.
• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown. Add half of the mojo and crumble the meat as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Add olives and pimientos, paprika, Worcestershire, hot pepper sauce, tomato sauce and grill seasoning. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook over low heat 10 minutes.
• Split Cuban rolls and pile the bottoms with hefty spoonfuls of Sloppy Ropa Vieja Jose mix. Cover meat with sliced dill pickles and bun tops. Serve the plantain chips and sliced tomatoes along side to finish your plates and drizzle tiny spoonfuls of raw mojo sauce over the chips when passing out the plates. Season the tomato slices with a pinch of salt as well.

PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat 1-inch of oil in a deep sided skillet over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F.
• Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice plantains into 1/8-inch thick ovals on the diagonal. Carefully add plantains to the oil in batches and fry until a tap with a metal spoon sounds hollow, about 1 minute. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle lightly with lime zest, lime juice and salt. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.