This Mojo Sauce Recipe is a bright, citrusy blend of fresh orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, and chile peppers. Inspired by Cuban mojo, this easy homemade sauce delivers a delicious combination of tangy, garlicky, slightly sweet, and spicy flavors. Best of all, it comes together in just five minutes using a blender.
Mojo is a popular sauce and marinade with many regional variations throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Canary Islands. Cuban mojo often features sour orange juice, garlic, and oil, sometimes with oregano and cumin. This version uses regular orange juice combined with fresh lime juice to create a similar citrusy balance, with cilantro and serrano or jalapeño pepper for a fresh, herbaceous twist.
The ingredients are simple: juice from one orange and two limes, one chile pepper, a garlic clove, fresh cilantro, olive oil, sugar, and kosher salt. The orange juice adds natural sweetness, while the lime provides acidity. Garlic brings savory depth, and cilantro adds a refreshing herbal flavor.
To prepare the sauce, add all the ingredients to a blender and process until mostly smooth, leaving small flecks of herbs throughout. A compact countertop blender works especially well for making small batches of sauces, dressings, and marinades.
Use this homemade mojo sauce as a finishing sauce for grilled pork, chicken, seafood, or roasted vegetables. It’s also delicious drizzled over rice bowls or served alongside crispy plantain chips.
For a particularly flavorful dinner, pair it with these Easy Mojo Meatballs. The citrus and garlic complement the savory pork meatballs beautifully. Love bold citrus and garlic flavors? Explore the green mojo marinade in our Tacos Carne Asada, or make our Garlic Mojo for another delicious variation.
If you prefer a milder sauce, remove the seeds and white membranes from the chile pepper before blending. For more heat, leave them in or adjust the amount of pepper to taste.
You can make this mojo sauce up to two days ahead. Store it covered in the refrigerator, then stir or shake before serving, since the oil and citrus juice may separate naturally.
Print
Mojo Sauce
There are many variations of mojo sauce. It is the signature marinade of Cuba and it finds its way into many different dishes.
- Total Time: :05
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Ingredients
- Juice of 1 orange
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 serrano chile or jalapeño, stem removed, split lengthwise
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ cup cilantro sprigs
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
Instructions
- Blend orange juice, lime juice, chile, garlic, cilantro, oil, sugar, and salt in a blender until mostly smooth but still specked with herbs. Transfer sauce to a small bowl.
- Do Ahead: Sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
Notes
Tips for the Best Homemade Mojo Sauce
- Use fresh citrus juice. Freshly squeezed orange and lime juice provide a brighter flavor than bottled juice.
- Adjust the heat. Remove the chile’s seeds and white membranes for a milder sauce, or use less pepper.
- Blend briefly. Process until the ingredients are mostly smooth, leaving small flecks of cilantro for texture.
- Taste before serving. Adjust the salt or citrus balance to suit your preference.
- Store properly. Keep the sauce covered in the refrigerator for up to two days. Stir or shake before serving because separation is normal.
- Prep Time: :05
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Cuban