Yuca con mojo is a Cuban side dish of boiled yuca, also called cassava, dressed in mojo, a sauce of garlic, citrus and oil. At Sofrito Latin Cafe, a Cuban and Latin cafe on Palm Parkway five minutes from Disney Springs, you can order it two ways: boiled or fried, both with cilantro mojo. Pick boiled if you want the version closest to the classic dish, and fried if you'd rather have it yuca frita style.

Key Takeaways

Yuca con mojo is boiled cassava dressed in a garlic and citrus mojo, and it often sits next to roast pork on the Cuban Christmas Eve plate.
Sofrito Latin Cafe lists two yuca sides under On the Side: Boiled Yuca al Cilantro Mojo and Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo, each marked (Cuba).
Boiled is the closer match to the classic dish.
Fried yuca also comes on the Dos Huevos Desayuno, so you can try it at breakfast.

Yuca con Mojo, Explained: Cassava Plus a Garlic Citrus Sauce

Yuca con mojo is simple: cassava boiled soft, then dressed with mojo, a Cuban garlic and citrus sauce poured over the yuca while it's hot. The Melissa's Produce recipe for yuca with citrus garlic dressing calls the sauce mojo agrio, also known as mojo criollo, a dressing made for boiled yuca. Their version is garlic cooked in olive oil with lime or sour orange juice.

The dish has a holiday job too. A Sassy Spoon's Cuban yuca with garlic mojo recipe says yuca con mojo often lands on the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) plate next to Cuban roast pork.

Two Versions at Sofrito Latin Cafe: Boiled and Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo

Sofrito Latin Cafe lists two yuca sides with cilantro mojo, one boiled and one fried, under On the Side on the lunch and dinner menu. The Boiled Yuca al Cilantro Mojo and the Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo share the same short menu line: (Cuba). Neither has a longer description, and both carry Gluten Free and Vegan tags.

The name is the visible difference from the classic. Melissa's Produce and A Sassy Spoon build their mojo on garlic, oil and sour orange or lime, with no cilantro in either ingredient list. The menu at Sofrito Latin Cafe calls its sauce cilantro mojo and doesn't list what goes into it, so ask our team when you order if you need the details.

Boiled vs Fried: Texture and When Each Fits

In home cooking, boiled yuca stays soft and soaks up mojo, while yuca frita often starts as boiled yuca fried for a crunchy outside. A Sassy Spoon simmers the yuca to fork-tender, warns against letting it go mushy, then pours hot mojo over it and lets it sit so the flavor soaks in. The same recipe turns leftover boiled yuca into yuca frita and calls the result crunchy yuca fries. Melissa's Produce says boiled yuca is done when it looks translucent and breaks apart easily with a fork.

In home recipes	Boiled yuca	Fried yuca
Cooking	Simmered in salted water to fork-tender	Boiled first, then fried
Texture	Soft, soaks up the mojo	Crunchy outside
Classic moment	Christmas Eve plate	Leftovers for Christmas lunch

Boiled fits when you want the dish the name describes, with the sauce soaked in. Fried fits when you want the yuca frita take instead.

What to Pair It With

Pair boiled yuca con mojo with the Roast Pork plate for a combination that mirrors the Cuban Christmas plate, which sets yuca beside roast pork. The menu describes the Roast Pork plate as braised pork seasoned with coriander, garlic, cumin and other spices, marked (Cuba). That pairing is our suggestion based on the holiday plate, not a combo the menu lists.

If you'd like a plantain side on the table too, our guide to Patacón vs Tostones explains how those two differ.

Verdict

Order boiled yuca for the closest match to classic yuca con mojo, or fried yuca if you'd rather have it yuca frita style. Both are on the lunch and dinner menu at Sofrito Latin Cafe.

FAQ

Is yuca the same as cassava?

Yes. Yuca and cassava are two names for the same root, and manioc is a third. The boiled yuca with Cuban mojo sauce recipe from Culinary Medicine Home lists those names along with aipim and casabe. Sofrito Latin Cafe uses the name yuca for both of its sides.

Are both yuca sides gluten free and vegan?

Both menu pages tag the boiled and fried yuca Gluten Free and Vegan. Guests with celiac disease or a serious sensitivity should ask about shared fryers and cross-contact before ordering, and that matters most for the fried side. For more on eating gluten free here, read our gluten free guide.

Does fried yuca come on any other plate?

Yes. At breakfast, the menu describes the Dos Huevos Desayuno as two eggs your way, applewood bacon, fried yuca and Cuban toast. At lunch and dinner, the Picada for Two also lists fried yuca, along with tostones, mini fried arepas and queso de mano.

Is yuca con mojo a holiday dish?

Often, but not only. A Sassy Spoon says it shows up on the Noche Buena plate beside Cuban roast pork, and that leftovers turn into yuca frita for Christmas lunch. The same recipe says you can make it for dinner any day of the week, and Sofrito Latin Cafe lists both yuca sides on its regular menu.

Where to Find Yuca con Mojo Near Disney Springs

Both yuca sides are on the menu at Sofrito Latin Cafe, a Cuban and Latin cafe on Palm Parkway, five minutes from Disney Springs. Order online or in person. Check today's hours on our Google Business Profile before you go.

Sofrito Latin Cafe

8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836

(407) 778-4205

References

Cuban Yuca with Garlic Mojo, A Sassy Spoon
Yuca with Citrus Garlic Dressing, Melissa's Produce
Boiled Yuca with Cuban Mojo Sauce, Culinary Medicine Home (American College of Culinary Medicine)

Yuca con Mojo: Boiled vs Fried, Which to Order