Keto Cuban Mojo Turkey

This Thanksgiving, why not give your holiday a Spanish twist with a recipe for keto Cuban mojo turkey? It’s loaded with flavor courtesy of the citrus garlic mojo it’s marinated in.

Having lived the majority of my life in South Florida (Hialeah), where Cuban culture is prominent, Thanksgiving turkey is more often than not prepared with a mojo marinade.

Growing up in a Cuban/Dominican household meant that our Thanksgiving dinner looked quite different from the rest of America.

My mom treated the turkey like a giant chicken and marinated the turkey the same way she would make her mojo chicken.

The use of this marinade basically guaranteed we always had a moist, juicy, flavorful turkey.

Low-Carb Cuban Mojo Turkey

Amp the flavor of your Thanksgiving turkey with this authentic Cuban low-carb mojo turkey recipe. I promise you that this turkey may just be the best turkey you’ll ever taste!

All the Latin seasoning comes together to produce a turkey that is browned to golden perfection and delivers the maximum amount of flavor. Plus, it’s an easy recipe since no brine is necessary.

If you have complained that turkey meat is bland, you haven’t tried a mojo-based turkey.

What Is Mojo?

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the word mojo; it is simply a Cuban marinade that is often used in their “pernil” roasted pork.

I have used a version of this mojo in our keto Cuban pork and our keto Cuban mojo chicken recipe.

Mojo is made with a blend of popular Latin spices, including fresh garlic and citrus.

I use readily available sour or Seville oranges in the Cuban mojo.  Seville sour oranges are widely used in the Caribbean and other Latin countries as a base for marinades, and it’s what gives mojo its sour, tangy goodness!

You can purchase sour oranges at local Hispanic or Caribbean supermarkets labeled “naranja agria”.

However, if you cannot find them, they can be substituted with limes and unsweetened orange juice. This substitution will not have the exact same taste profile, but it will still be delicious.

Another option is bottled sour oranges such as Goya’s Marinade, Naranja Agria.

The Ingredients Needed For Mojo Turkey

The following are the ingredients needed to make a Cuban Criollo-style turkey: Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the page.

Please don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. I promise this: it’s super easy to make a keto-friendly Cuban turkey!

• One whole 10-12 pound turkey, neck, and giblets removed
• Dried oregano
• Ground cumin
• Smoky Paprika
• Black pepper
• Kosher salt
• Cayenne pepper flakes
• Onions cut into quarters
• Garlic cloves, finely minced
• A couple of garlic heads sliced in half
• Sour orange juice (or substitute with lemon juice and unsweetened fresh orange juice) or Badia’s Marinade, Naranja Agria
• White wine or white vinegar
• Bay leaves
• Olive oil
• Seville sour oranges, cut in slices (optional), can be substituted for lemon
• Unsalted butter, sliced

How To Make A Keto Cuban Mojo Turkey

The first thing you will need to do before you get started is defrost the turkey in your refrigerator for about three days. This will depend on the size of your turkey and your refrigerator settings, but three days is the average time.

I place my turkey in a large roasting pan to help collect the liquid as it defrosts. You could also place it on a large baking sheet.

Once the turkey has completely thawed, I remove the neck and giblets stored in the cavity, give the bird a good wash, and then dry it well with paper towels.

Then, prepare the marinade by mixing everything in a bowl. If you prefer, you could also use a processor or blender.

You’ll need to gently loosen the turkey’s skin. The best place is to start at the neck and, with your fingers, separate the skin from the breast.

Then, slide your hand down to loosen the skin from the sides. Do this carefully so that you do not tear the skin.

After you have separated the skin off the meat, lift the skin and proceed to pierce the breast and thighs with a small, sharp knife, trying not to tear the skin.

Although you can skip this step, it ensures that the marinade penetrates the flesh of the turkey meat. 

Place the turkey in a roasting pan and pour the prepared marinade over the whole turkey, inside the turkey cavity, and underneath the skin.

I like marinating the turkey breast-side down so that the marinade has a chance to flavor the meat and ensure that the breast stays juicy.

Once flipped, allow the turkey to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours, overnight if possible.

Roasting Instructions

The day you are ready to cook, flip the turkey breast side up and add the butter slices underneath the skin.

Then, allow the turkey to rest on the kitchen counter for about an hour or two before preheating the oven to 450 degrees.

You basically want the turkey to come to room temperature before cooking.

This extra step ensures that the turkey meat stays moist and doesn’t toughen up from the shock of the hot oven. It also allows the meat to cook evenly.

Next, it’s time to truss the turkey legs using a cotton string or by cutting slits into the excess skin that is around the cavity.

To use this method, cut two slits into the flap around the cavity and tuck each leg into the slit.

I then add the quartered onions, sliced whole garlic heads, and sliced sour oranges or lemons around the sides of the turkey and inside the turkey cavity. 

Roast the turkey at 450 degrees to brown the turkey and crisp the skin. This should take about 15-20 minutes.

Then, reduce your oven to 325 degrees. Baste the turkey with the pan juices and continue to roast the turkey being sure to baste the turkey every 30 minutes.

If the skin begins to brown too quickly, add a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over the top of the bird. Cook the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the drumstick registers 165 degrees.

Be sure not to touch the bone when inserting the thermometer to ensure accurate readings. The turkey will take anywhere from 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours to fully cook, depending on your oven.

Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and allow it to rest for 30 minutes before carving. Lastly, strain the pan juices and serve as gravy in a sauceboat on the side.

Wondering What To Serve Your Mojo Style Keto-Friendly Turkey?

In South Florida, many Hispanic homes accompany their turkey with high-carb traditional dishes like black beans and rice, which, of course, doesn’t make the keto cut.

The good news is that this turkey can be served with any of our favorite traditional keto holiday sides. We like pairing it with our:

• Keto cornbread stuffing
• Keto cauliflower mash
• Keto mac and cheese, made with cauliflower and broccoli
• Keto roasted carrots

Tag Us

In my book, in order to stay committed to a low-carb diet long enough to see the benefits, you should find creative ways to enjoy the recipes you’ve come to love.

I truly believe it’s why, as a family, we have remained faithful to this healthy lifestyle since 2014. 

The quickest way to throw in the towel while making any dietary changes is to feel deprived.

My hope is that our keto-friendly recipes will make the keto diet a delicious breeze to follow and allow you to experience the changes you are hoping for. 

I sure hope you will give some of this keto Cuban turkey recipe a try. Once you do, make sure you remember to tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. 

It’s what encourages us to keep sharing and perfecting our recipes.

Also, check out our Amazon Store for our recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

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When we decided to combine our Christian faith and the keto diet, we did so in hopes of finding lasting transformation.

To say we needed God’s intervention is to put it mildly. When we followed the Holy Spirit’s lead to embrace the ketogenic diet and combine it with our faith, we got on the path to real transformation. 

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