Pollo Asado Cubano (Cuban Mojo Roast Chicken)
A whole chicken marinated overnight in a bright mojo of sour orange, lots of garlic, cumin and oregano, then roasted with onions until golden and juicy. Served with black beans and rice.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the mojo
Crush the garlic with the salt in a mortar until it forms a paste. Stir in the cumin, oregano, black pepper, juice and olive oil until combined.
- 10 garlic cloves garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 200 ml juice
- 60 ml olive oil
✅ Done when: smooth, well mixed liquid marinade
Marinate
Gently loosen the chicken skin with your fingers and rub some underneath and all over the outside. Place the chicken in a bowl with half the onions and the remaining , cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once.
- 1 whole chicken chicken
- 1 onion, sliced into rings onion
✅ Done when: chicken fully coated and chilled at least 8 hours
Heat the oven
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Roast
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Rest and serve
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Make the mojo
Crush the garlic with the salt in a mortar until it forms a paste. Stir in the cumin, oregano, black pepper, juice and olive oil until combined.
- 10 garlic cloves garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 200 ml juice
- 60 ml olive oil
✅ Done when: smooth, well mixed liquid marinade
Marinate
Gently loosen the chicken skin with your fingers and rub some underneath and all over the outside. Place the chicken in a bowl with half the onions and the remaining , cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once.
- 1 whole chicken chicken
- 1 onion, sliced into rings onion
✅ Done when: chicken fully coated and chilled at least 8 hours
Heat the oven
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Roast
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Rest and serve
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
The Story Behind the Dish
Mojo, the garlic and sour orange marinade, is the backbone of Cuban cooking, used on pork, chicken and yuca alike. Sour oranges grow throughout the Caribbean and give mojo its distinctive tang.
Pollo asado is a Sunday lunch favourite in Cuban homes on the island and in Miami.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Juicy, garlicky and bright with citrus, it's the simplest way to taste the soul of Cuban cooking.
💡 Fun Fact
Cuban cooks often save the extra mojo to pour over boiled yuca at the same meal.
All over Cuba
23.11°N, -82.37°W
Related recipes
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!