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Overhead view of papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) served with mojo verde and mojo rojo sauces in small bowls on a white platter.

Red and Green Canarian Mojo Sauces

These traditional Canarian mojo sauces, mojo rojo (red mojo sauce) and mojo verde (green mojo sauce), bring vibrant flavor to papas arrugadas, grilled meats and fish.
Recipe Developer-Estefania
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

For Mojo Rojo Sauce:

  • ¼ red bell pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 chilli pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 100 ml sunflower oil

For Mojo Verde Sauce:

  • ¼ green bell pepper
  • Bunch of cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 100 ml extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

How to Make Mojo Rojo Sauce:

  • Add the red bell pepper, garlic, salt, paprika, cumin powder, and chili pepper to a blender for the red mojo.
  • Pour in the vinegar and sunflower oil, then blend until the mixture becomes completely smooth and well combined.

How to Make Mojo Verde Sauce:

  • Add the green bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, cumin powder, and salt to a blender for the green mojo.
  • Pour in the vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, then blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Notes

Blend Everything Well: I like to let the blender run for a full minute; it makes both sauces extra smooth and helps all the flavors come together perfectly. 
Tweak the Heat: When I want a milder mojo rojo, I remove the seeds from the chili pepper before blending. It still has flavor without too much fire. 
Let It Sit Before Serving: I always give the sauces 20–30 minutes to rest after blending. The taste gets better as everything settles and infuses. 
Use Fresh Cilantro for Mojo Verde: I always pick bright, fresh cilantro; it gives the green mojo that vibrant, herby taste that bottled herbs just can’t match. 
Keep Leftovers in Jars: I store any extra sauce in a jar with a lid in the fridge. It keeps well for a few days and makes a quick dip or spread anytime. 

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 36g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 624IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg