Cuban · intermediate
Cuban Mojo Garlic Chicken Thighs With Caramelized Sweet Plantains
Juicy chicken thighs marinated in a citrusy garlic mojo, pan-seared until crisp, and cooked with sweet ripe plantains in a flavorful pan sauce.
- PREP TIME
- 15 min
- COOK TIME
- 30 min
- SERVES
- 4
Good things
start in the kitchen.
LET’S MAKE IT
Step by step
- 01
Whisk together minced garlic, orange juice, lime juice, ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl to create the mojo marinade.
- 02
Place chicken thighs in a dish and pour half of the mojo marinade over them, turning to coat, and let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- 03
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat chicken skin dry and sear skin-side down for 6 to 8 minutes until deep golden brown, then flip and sear for 4 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate.
- 04
In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the sliced onions and sweet plantain rounds for 4 to 5 minutes until plantains start to brown on both sides.
- 05
Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, pour in the remaining mojo marinade, and lower the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit (74 Celsius).
- 06
Uncover, turn heat to medium to thicken the skillet sauce for 2 minutes, then serve hot with plantains and onions spooned over top.
A LITTLE KITCHEN KNOW-HOW
Mojo Pan-Braising
Searing poultry until crisp and finishing it gently in citrus juice and garlic to tenderize the meat while crafting a vibrant pan sauce.
Notes from the kitchen
- Choose plantains with dark yellow skin covered in black spots for maximum sweetness and soft texture.
- Always pat chicken skin completely dry before searing to ensure a crisp crust.
- Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Cuban; regional versions vary.
- Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.