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You guys remember these sweet coconut balls from last Friday?

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest
And do you remember how I said that I was researching some Cuban food?? While here it is, and I could not be more pumped to share it with you guys! For starters, Cuban food is where it’s at. Citrus, lime cilantro, rice, pork, plantains, beans, PINEAPPLE?!? Yes, all my favorites.

You should have seen me trying to narrow down exactly what I wanted to make. Tacos, sandwiches, fajitas, soup, burgers, etc. I think I text my mom like ten different options, but in the end I decided to combine some of my ideas and make my version of a Cuban Special.

Ohh this recipe, I LOVE this recipe! I know, I say this a lot, but I REALLY love this recipe. This is so completely lame, but this is like soul food. It just makes you all happy inside, and like I said, the flavors are killer.

Ok, and any plate with a giant pile of pork, rice, beans and plantains (FRIES) is obviously going to be high on my list.

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestThe Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestThe Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestThe Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

So I feel like I should start with the inspiration for this post. Whenever Easter rolls around I always think of Florida, and when I link of south Florida, I think of Cuban food. I mean, hello, have you ever had a Cuban Sandwich in Miami?! It’s everything… just saying.

Anyway, it’s a bit early for my Cuba cravings to be kicking in, but with Easter being in March, that’s how things are going down. And also why today we get to chat about this deliciousness!

For the recipe, I went pretty dang traditional. Cuban flavors are spot on, so for the most part I really don’t want to mess with them. The pork gets marinated in a mojo sauce, which is basically a whole bunch of orange juice, lime juice, spices and olive oil. This recipe is REALLY simple, but it takes time to prepare because marinating the pork and then slow roasting it (or slow cooking it in the crockpot) really are a must. So for this recipe, you’ll need to plan ahead!

Okay, so that’s the pork. It’s juicy, tender and perfect.

Let’s talk about the rest of the meal though. It’s no secret that I really love to send you guys off with a FULL meal. Yep, I’m talking the works and that’s what this Cuban special is. Mojo sauce for serving, rice and black beans, plantain “fries” caramelized in coconut oil and brown sugar (can’t decide if this is a dessert or not, but I went with savory…clearly), and all the pineapple you can eat. 🙂 Oh, and I can’t forget the avocados!

YUM, right?!?  What more could you ask for?

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestThe Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Oh wait, I guess maybe a mojito. YESS. definitely a mojito. Virgin or not so much, whatever works for you.

Oh and real fast, I just wanted to thank you for all your “where to go in Chicago” suggestions. As it turned out, we had barely any time to just hit up fun spots, but we did make it to the Magnificent Mile. And as I write this post I am still here enjoying the windy city (not really that windy, the weather has been pretty chill so far), planning how on earth I am going to fit in yet another churro before I hop on a plane home this afternoon.

Umm, wait, NEW PLAN: Mojitos for drinks, Cuban Mojo Pork Special for dinner and all the churros I can cram in my suitcase for dessert. I think my Monday game is pretty on point today, wouldn’t you say??

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 836 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Mojo Pork

  • 1 1/2 cups orange juice + the zest of 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup lime juice + the zest of 1 lime
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 6 cloves of garlic chopped or grated
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt + pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2-3 pounds pork shoulder or butt

Mojo Sauce

Brown Sugar Plantain Fries

  • 3 ripe plantains cut into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil

The Rest

  • 2-3 cups steamed white or brown rice
  • 1 1/2 cup cooked black beans
  • 1/2 a ripe pineapple cut into triangles,
  • 1 avocado mashed with salt + lime juice
  • fresh orange wedges + cilantro + tortilla chips for serving

Instructions

  • Place the pork in a large zip-top bag. Combine all the remaining ingredients for the pork in a blender or food processor and blend until everything is finely chopped and combined, about 30 seconds. Alternately you can finely chop everything and mix in a bowl. Pour the marinade over the the pork. Allow the pork to sit, at room temperature for 1-2 hours or overnight in the fridge (remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to roasting).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (crockpot version in the notes).
  • Heat a heavy bottom dutch oven or oven safe pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, remove the pork from the marinade (reserve the marinade for cooking) and add to dutch oven. Sear on all sides until golden brown (about 2 minutes per side). Remove the pot from the heat and let the pork cool down slightly, then pour in the reserved marinade + 1 cup of water. Place a lid on the pot and place in the preheated oven. Roast the pork for 3-4 hours or until the pork is falling off the bone and shreds easily. Shred the pork in the pot and toss with the sauce. Discard any fatty pieces. If at any point throughout the cooking process the liquid in the post gets lower than 1 inch, add about 1/2 cup water to keep liquid in the pot.

Mojo Sauce

  • Combine all the ingredients in bowl. Taste and add salt as needed. Alternately, if you have a mortar and pestle, mash the cilantro, jalapeno and salt together and then add the remaining ingredients.

Brown Sugar Plantains

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the coconut oil to melt. Add the plantains and sprinkle with brown sugar, cook until the plantains are caramelized and soft, but still firm enough to pick up once cool. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt.

Let's Assemble Already!!

  • Toss together the hot rice with the black beans and a handful of chopped cilantro. Divide the rice among bowls or plates and top with shredded pork. Add some plantain fries, pineapple, mashed avocado and fresh orange slices. Serve with the Mojo Sauce.

Notes

*To Make in the CROCKPOT: Place the pork in a large zip-top bag. Combine all the remaining ingredients for the pork in a blender or food processor and blend until everything is finely chopped and combined, about 30 seconds. Alternately you can finely chop everything and mix in a bowl. Pour the marinade over the the pork. Allow the pork to sit, at room temperature for 1-2 hours or overnight in the fridge (remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to roasting). Add the pork to the bowl of your crockpot along with the marinade. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Shred the pork in the crockpot and toss with the sauce. Discard and fatty pieces.
View Recipe Comments

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The most special of all “specials” right there. I’ll take that times two please!

P.S. I really wasn’t joking about those Churros…or the mojitos. 🙂

The Cuban Mojo Pork Special | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So so so terrific! I was intimidated to do the plantains and part of me thought, just skip it the family won’t know! But… be brave and do the plantains, surprisingly easy and totally makes the meal feel special! Everyone loved it!

    1. Hey Virginia,
      Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your feedback, so glad it was delish! xT

  2. 5 stars
    This is a great recipe! I live in a rural area where plantains are difficult to find. So, I used a yam with miso & olive oil and roasted it. The fresh pineapples are hard to find, so used a locally made mango salsa. The meat marinade and sauce are delicious. Yummy and healthy.

  3. This recipe is AMAZING. We followed all directions and it came out perfectly and looked so beautiful plated! The entire family really enjoyed it! Another top recipe from HBH!!!

    1. Hey Michelle,
      Happy Sunday!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and your comment, I love to hear that it was a winner! xx

  4. This was amazing! This is a new go to recipe for company. We ate the leftovers on tortillas 🙂

    1. Hey Kathey,
      Awesome!! I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for your comment and sharing your feedback! xxT

  5. Hi Tieghan- in recipes like this where you include recommendations for “the rest” does the nutritional info include “the rest” or just the main recipe? So, in this post, does it include the rice and beans, avocado, etc., or no? Thanks!

    1. Hi Emily,
      It includes all of the ingredients that are listed. Please let me know if you have any other questions!! xx

  6. 5 stars
    Holy smokes! So amazing! I messed up the timing so did dried spices and oil as a dry rub and used the crockpot. The toppings and sauces were next level! Thank you!

    1. Hi there! I’m so sorry, I haven’t! I’m sure it would work great in the Instant Pot 🙂 xTieghan

        1. Hi Jessica,
          Happy Sunday! I am so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for making it:)

  7. If I already smoked a pork butt, would you suggest having some of the marinade still sit in the cooked pork or just make the mojo sauce and pour it on top?

    1. Hey Lauren,
      I think I would just make the mojo sauce and pour it on top:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  8. 5 stars
    Tieghan, oh em GEE. This recipe is incredible; I know it’s from way back but we just discovered it this year. It’s just SO good. All the flavors are amazing and work well together, and the pork gets so tender and even a little crispy in the Dutch oven.

    I’m the kind of person who likes to make something different every night of the week, and even beyond, but this one just keeps me coming back for more. It’s been on heavy rotation in our house, quickly rising to become one of our favorite pork dishes, and definitely one of my favorite things to make in the Dutch oven. Especially during quarantine, this one is the absolute right mix of comforting and fresh. It’s also become a weekday meal while I continue to work from home, because I can prep this the day before, sear at lunch the next day, and let it roast all afternoon. It’s so satisfying to wrap up a day of work and then eat this. Yum! Highly recommended!

    1. Hey Jordan,
      I would cube the pork and cook for 8-10 minutes on high pressure. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  9. 5 stars
    I have to say I cheated on this in a few ways, but dang….still SO delicious. I know you say in the comments not to use a tenderloin, but I had two fattier cuts of tenderloin and decided to do it anyway. Mine were not dry at all! I used the crock pot method and it turned out stellar! Secondly, I didn’t want all that marinade to go to waste so I poured some of it over the rice with cilantro. Holy moly the rice was amazing. I also cut and fried the plantains like maduros fritos (thick slices on an angle), and since my plantains were ripe but not the ripeness you need for maduros (look almost rotten), I drizzled honey on them after frying. Amazing, everything. One of my favorites I have made from your book and online!

  10. 2 stars
    First of all, let’s get facts straight the Cuban sandwich was invented in Tampa at the Columbia, which still exists in Ybor City. I don’t even know what the Miami places are making but they are nothing like the original Cuban sandwich’s. If you watch the movie Chef, that sandwich they were actually making was the original from Tampa. So the movie also had it wrong.

    1. Hey Denise, yes, I would recommend searing the pork before adding to the crockpot. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

  11. Tieghan!

    Whats the red in the picture of the marinade? Chilli or capsicum?

    I have seen a few have asked and i am making this tonight, i was going to use pork belly and marinate it in the mojo! Looks yum

    1. Hi Laura! That is a red Fresno pepper. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan