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.