Recipe(tried): Mojo Miami style

From bottled mojo to memories of grandma's mojo, everything in the cuban kitchen has variations depending on what part of the island you are from.

The truth is that nothing substitutes pulling a "naranja agria' from the tree in your back yard. But, if you must substitute you can use limones verdes if you dont like the orange juice/lime mix (and i dont mean the yellow lemons that americans use for limonada either). There are naranjas, naranjas agrias, limones y limas (those limas are not the little key west limes used for key lime pie either).

Most important part. if you want a smokie flavor is the cumin and a dash of oregano in a mortar, must grind those well and add the garlic and a dash of salt so they dont jump all over the kitchen floor while you are making them into a paste.

If you want another twist, take a whole thing of garlic, cut the top and the bottom off so they sit and bake them, then all you have to do is squeeze the garlic's into the mortar and it will paste easily.

Now to the mojo... (depending how many ppl you are serving, eyeball it depending how garlicky do you want your mojo to be.

In a high heat resistant bowl (corningware, thick glass or clay serving bowl (size is up to you:

2 medium or 4 small onions thinly sliced into rings, the thinner the better, your garlic, cumin, salt, and oregano paste, if you really really really like garlic, add 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, add spread evenly on the bottom of the bowl, cover with the lemon or lime juice (prefered is the naranja agria juice) pinch of salt to taste.

now best trick to the best taste, is buy real lard (yes, pork fat) melt slowly about 4 or 6 tablespoonsfuls, heat to scalding level, step back so it doesnt splatter you when it sizzles, pour the scalding 'manteca' over the ingredients in the bowl (you might want to marinade the onion/garlic mix in the lemon juice for maybe 1/2 hour before you pour the scalding grease over it. So remember, leave this for the final touch right before you are ready to pour over the meats or veggies or roots (yuca yummy) that you are serving.

You wont regret the extra steps....

Buen apetito!!!