Mojito??? Yes! Mojito is a Cuban drink, but it is also a delicious Garlic Sauce. It is often called Mojo Criollo, but a lot of Cubans call it Mojito including my parents. See the picture below of my father's recipe for the Garlic Sauce, Mojito.

The drink Mojito goes back to the days of Ernest Hemingway when he lived in Cuba and ordered it often at his favorite Cuban bar La Bodegita Del Medio.

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s and even in the 70’s when at this point I was living in the US, I always knew the traditional Cuban drink to be the Cuba Libre (Rum and Coke). The Mojito became again popular in the 2000’s , my husband thinks that it’s probably because in Burn Notice (one of his favorite TV shows) Sam Axe drank them all the time!!!

After long conversations with other Cubans on a Facebook group, and they had me intrigued , I actually made my first Mojito the other day and they are pretty good!!! Very refreshing!!

But, let’s get back to the Mojito or Mojo Criollo over Yuca!!!

Yuca is also known as Cassava. It is a root vegetable similar to a potato but much more starchy..

Here is my recipe for Yuca con Mojito:

1 1.5 bag frozen Goya Yuca

10 Garlic gloves

3/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Juice of 1/2 Orange

Juice of 3 lemons

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 Bay leaf ( I never used the bay leaf, but my father had it in his recipe , Laurel)

To cook the Yuca follow the directions on the bag of Goya Yuca

Meanwhile for the Mojito garlic sauce, In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, pour the olive oil, with a garlic press, crush the garlic in, add salt, pepper, oregano and bay leaf. Bring to a slow boil, add the juiced orange and lemon. stir. When coming back to a boil, cover and remove from heat.

When the Yuca is fork tender, drain and place in a serving plate. Pour the Mojito over it and mix with the Yuca. I served mine last night with my Pork Tenderloin Cuban Style and sliced tomatoes with a bit of olive oil, cider vinegar and a little salt and pepper.

Now….since I probably got you all excited about the drink Mojito, here is the recipe…..

In a 10 oz glass, place 6 cut mint leaves

Add 2 tsp super fine sugar or simple syrup

Add the juice of 1 lime

With a wooden spoon, gently press together the mint, sugar and lime

Fill glass halfway with crushed ice

Add 1 shot of Bacardi Superior White Rum

Fill the rest of the glass with Club Soda

Stir and add a sprig of mint