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Drizzle this easy, flavorful Mojo Sauce over your entire meal to level up the whole experience! Boasting bold savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, this easy sauce is here to elevate any meal!
If you or someone you know if suffering from a case of Food is Boring-ism, or I Don’t Know What To Make-a-phobia, I have just the thing for you.
It’s called Mojo Sauce, and you’re gonna love it!
I took the marinade that is used in classic Cuban Mojo Chicken, and turned it into a sauce.
And you know what? I’m so happy I did, because I’ve been dousing everything in it!
Pork, salmon (as seen in my Crispy Mojo Salmon Bowls), beef, chicken, big bowls of rice and veggies… You name it, I’m Mojo-ing it up!
The simple combination of citrusy lime and orange with savory garlic, ginger and cumin and a touch of sweet creates a well-balanced sauce that is perfect for all savory applications. It brings tang, it brings sweetness, it brings a punch of flavor that will keep you coming back for more!
The best part is the simple ingredients can be found at any grocery store!
Ingredients for Mojo Sauce:
Avocado Oil: Every great sauce begins with a quality fat! I like using avocado oil because it has a neutral flavor, but olive oil works too.
Lime Zest and Lime Juice: That tangy citrus burst comes from fresh lime zest and fresh lime juice. Be sure to include the zest, as it is responsible for most of the lime flavor!
Orange Zest and Orange Juice: Sweet tangy orange zest and juice works in tandem with lime for a multi-layer citrus flavor. Don’t skip the orange zest, as it is what brings the majority of the orange flavor.
Pure Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar: While there is some natural sweetness in the orange juice, a little sweetener like pure maple syrup or brown sugar complements the sour and savory flavors.
Fresh Garlic: A little garlic goes a long way in bringing a big punch of flavor.
Fresh Ginger: Ginger brings a subtle heat and that bold ginger flavor that is impossible to replicate in any other way! I recommend keeping it in unless you aren’t a fan of ginger.
Ground Cumin: An earthy, slight herbal vibe comes from ground cumin.
Sea Salt: Salt enhances all of the flavors to make the sauce taste rich with the flavors coming together in a cohesive theme.
Ways to Customize:
- Make it Tangier: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar to elevate the sour flavor, almost for a vinaigrette type of flavor. If you go this route, consider using it as salad dressing.
- Spice it Up: Toss in some red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of sriracha, a chopped jalapeno or habanero to increase the heat level to your liking.
How to Make Mojo Sauce:
Add all of the ingredients to a small blender (such as a Magic Bullet or a NutriBullet) and blend until all of the ingredients are combined.
Note: if you don’t own a small blender or a small food processor, you can mix the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Just be sure the garlic and ginger are finely minced or grated.
Use immediately, or store in an airtight container such as a jar with a tight fitting lid for up to 2 weeks.
What to Serve it With:
Looking for ways to serve mojo sauce? Here are some of my top recommendations for main entrees that instantly benefit from it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The ingredients are a close replica of the original recipe for a Cuban mojo marinade. This recipe is enough to marinade up to 1.5 pounds of meat.
If you’re marinating more than that, double or triple the recipe so that you have enough marinade.
Marinate the meat in a sealed container or a zip lock bag for at least 1 hour, ideally several hours or up to 24 hours.
Mojo sauce is my own personal adaptation of a traditional mojo marinade, which is typically used to marinate chicken or pork. It consists of lime juice, orange juice, fresh garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. It originates from Cuba, or some say the Canary Islands. Depending on who is making it, there are often other ingredients added in order to level up the flavor.
For instance, some people add white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar for more sour flavor, or use sour oranges to achieve the tangy flavor.
My mojo sauce recipe consists of ingredients I find to be delicious together, and it is in no way supposed to be a representation of authentic Cuban food or Spanish food. It’s simply my own version, and I add this simple sauce to everything!
So the next time dinner feels daunting or you’re looking for some fresh new flavors, whip up this quick and easy condiment! Trust me, you’ll want to put it on everything!
Get saucy!
Mojo Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup avocado oil , or olive oil
- 1 fresh lime, zested
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 small clove garlic
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small blender (such as a Magic Bullet or a NutriBullet) and blend until all of the ingredients are combined. Note: if you don’t own a small blender or a small food processor, you can mix the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Just be sure the garlic and ginger are finely minced or grated.
- Use immediately, or store in an airtight container such as a jar with a tight fitting lid for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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