A whole chicken marinated in a tangy mojo of sour orange, garlic, cumin, and oregano, then roasted until golden and juicy — the centerpiece of Cuban family meals.
Ingredients
1 whole chicken (about 2kg)
1/2 cup sour orange juice
8 cloves garlic, mashed into paste
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, quartered
Salt and pepper
Instructions
1Mix sour orange juice, garlic paste, cumin, oregano, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a mojo marinade.
2Rub the mojo all over and inside the chicken. Marinate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
3Place chicken in a roasting pan with quartered onion. Cover with foil.
4Roast at 190°C (375°F) for 1 hour covered, then uncover and roast 30-40 min more until skin is golden and juices run clear.
5Rest 15 min before carving. Spoon pan juices over the chicken.
6Serve with moros y cristianos and maduros.
Did You Know?
Cuban grandmothers insist on marinating the chicken overnight and consider anything less than 8 hours insufficient — some marinate for two days.