Cuba · Bluefin Tuna

Cuban Grilled Bluefin with Mojo

Atún a la Parrilla con Mojo

Cojímar’s fishermen have chased big tuna off the north coast of Cuba for generations. Thick steaks get a quick bath in sour orange mojo and go on a hot grill.

  • Prep 15 min + 30 min marinate
  • Cook 10 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy
Photo: MDRX · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the mojo

For the tuna

Method

Step by step, the way it is done on the island.

  1. Make the mojo. Mash the garlic and salt into a paste. Stir in the sour orange juice, cumin, oregano and pepper. Set half aside for serving.
  2. Marinate. Pour the other half over the tuna and refrigerate 30 minutes, turning once. No longer, or the juice turns the outside pale and soft.
  3. Grill. Heat the grill very hot and oil the grates. Pat the steaks dry and grill 2–3 minutes per side for a rosy center.
  4. Warm the mojo. Heat the olive oil in a small pan and cook the onion 2–3 minutes. Off the heat, pour in the saved mojo; it will sputter.
  5. Serve. Slice the tuna thick, spoon the warm mojo and onions over and scatter with parsley. Serve with moros y cristianos.

On the side

The side dish that belongs with it, full recipe included.

Cuba

Cuban Black Beans and Rice

Moros y Cristianos

Black beans and rice cooked together in one pot with a garlicky sofrito. In Cuba no fish plate is complete without it.

  • Prep 15 min
  • Cook 40 min
  • Serves 6
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 2 cans (15 oz) black beans, drained, liquid saved (or 1 cup dry beans, cooked)
  • 1½ cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
  • 3 strips bacon, chopped (optional)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2½ cups liquid: the bean liquid plus water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar

How to make it

  1. Sofrito. In a heavy pot, fry the bacon until it gives up its fat. Add the olive oil, onion and green pepper and cook 6 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin and oregano for 1 minute.
  2. Add rice and beans. Stir in the rice to coat it, then the beans, the 2½ cups liquid, bay leaf, salt and vinegar.
  3. Cook low. Bring to a boil, cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 20 minutes without lifting the lid.
  4. Rest. Turn off the heat and leave it covered 10 minutes more, then fluff with a fork.

Photo: Juan Emilio Prades Bel · CC BY-SA 4.0