This Homemade Adobo Seasoning Is Big on Flavor, Short on Additives (2024)

Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose dry spice blend often found in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. It typically contains salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, and oregano. The exact mix can vary—some adobo blends may contain turmeric, touches of fiery heat like cayenne, or citrus elements such as dried lemon zest.

It’s widely used as a base seasoning for meats, fish, stews, sauces, beans, stock, vegetables, and it is always used in dishes such as pastelón, Its flavor profile is garlicky and salty— a great stand in for other poultry seasonings.

This easy-to-make adobo seasoning can be made in less than 10 minutes flat. This recipe makes about 1/2 cup of spice blend, which yields 8 tablespoons. Adobo will keep for about 2 to 4 years in an airtight container (as it is a ground spice mix).This will be enough to use in several dishes before you will need to make another batch.

This Homemade Adobo Seasoning Is Big on Flavor, Short on Additives (1)

All About Adobo

You may have heard of adobo across other cuisines and in other forms (such as a wet marinade). The name adobo comes from the Spanish word “adobar,” which means to marinate. There are wet and dry forms of adobo—the adobo most commonly associated with Filipino cooking is a wet marinade,primarily vinegar or other liquids with lots of garlic and assorted other seasonings to flavor chicken, beef, pork, fish, or even vegetables.

There are also canned chipotles in adobo, most commonly associated with Mexican cuisine. This is usually a canned thick, spicy, and smoky red sauce with whole chiles. Many Mexican dishes use canned chipotle in adobo like chicken adobo and rice and enfrijoladas, to Mexican-inspired recipes like a spicy bloody Maria co*cktail andturkey tortilla soup.

These members of the diverse adobo family are all great, but today we’re here to make adobo spice mix, so let’s get to it!

Adobo Seasoning vs. Sazón Seasoning

You may be wondering how adobo is different from sazón, another popular Latin American spice blend. The primary flavor profile of adobo is garlicky and herbaceous, while sazón has more citrus notes, a sweet peppery profile, and contains coriander and achiote or annatto (which makes the spice blend a beautiful red hue).

Adobo can range from pale white to yellow to red, depending on the proportions of garlic and onion, plus the amount of turmeric or amount of paprika added. Using a predominant amount of garlic and onion powder will yield a paler spice blend, while adding a significant amount of turmeric creates a pigmented yellow spice blend. For more paprika dominant adobos, the color will near the red-brown of sazón.

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Adobo Seasoning Variations

You can adjust adobo seasoning to make your favorite elements in the mix pop, or address any dietary needs, such as reducing sodium.

Some blends have fiery spice introduced to them, others ease up on the spice or completely forgo pepper altogether. Other blends include citrus elements like orange or lemon pepper.

How to Store Adobo Seasoning

Keep adobo in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture. You can store it indefinitely in a room-temperature pantry. That isn’t to say that over time the flavor will not fade, but it will not “go bad” or rancid.

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More Savory Spice Blend Recipes

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  • Basic Pickling Spice Blend
  • The Best Dry Rub for Steak
  • The Best Dry Rub for Chicken
  • The Best Dry Rub for Ribs

Adobo Seasoning

Prep Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Servings86 (1/4-teaspoon) servings

Yield7 tablespoons

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

Method

  1. Make the seasoning:

    In a medium bowl, combine the salt, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder,oregano, cumin, and chili powder.

  2. Store the seasoning:

    Store in a sealed jar in a cool, dry place. Keep away from heat, light, and moisture. You can store it indefinitely in a room-temperature pantry. That isn’t to say that over time the flavor will not fade, but it will not “go bad” or rancid.

  • Herbs and Spices
  • Mexican
  • Brazilian
  • Puerto Rican
  • Most Recent
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1Calories
0g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 86
Amount per serving
Calories1
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 89mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 0g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 6mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

This Homemade Adobo Seasoning Is Big on Flavor, Short on Additives (2024)

FAQs

What is adobo seasoning made of? ›

Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose dry spice blend often found in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. It typically contains salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, and oregano.

What can I replace adobo seasoning with? ›

What can be used in place of adobo seasoning? A suitable substitute for adobo seasoning is a blend of common spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can try using Cajun seasoning or mild curry powder to achieve a similar flavor profile.

Do you put MSG in adobo? ›

Yes and no, many companies that make and sell adobo seasoning do put MSG in their seasoning blend, along with a host of other ingredients you probably do not want in your food. But Seasonest is not one of those companies. Seasonest Adobo seasoning is a savory blend of pure, fresh, organic herbs and spices.

Is adobo all-purpose seasoning good? ›

Adobo is a godly spice. It works with every food, and tastes great. Every time we would cook for someone else, we would use just this and some olive oil, and they would be raving about the taste and asking how we did it. Bam, adobo.

What is the flavor of adobo? ›

The main ingredients of Philippine adobo are ingredients native to Southeast Asia, namely vinegar, soy sauce or fish sauce, peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves. It does not traditionally use chilis, paprika, oregano, or tomatoes. Rather, adobo is characteristically salty and sour, and often sweet taste.

What makes adobo so good? ›

In Spain, the adobo you'll find on restaurant menus refers to the process of marinating raw protein in vinegar, spices, and aromatics including pimentón, fresh garlic, and bay leaves. Wine and/or olive oil often make an appearance.

What are the 2 versions of adobo? ›

Based on the main ingredients, the most common adobo types are adobong manók, in which chicken is used, and adobong baboy, in which pork is used.

What meat is adobo seasoning good on? ›

Then all the spices, not to mention, aromatics from garlic and onion add the flavor. The fun color is from the turmeric. We make a spicy adobo by adding cayenne pepper. This is an all-purpose seasoning and can be used for anything from pork, chicken, beef, and even fish.

Is adobo seasoning healthy? ›

In short, this Latin cuisine staple is full of vitamins, electrolytes, antioxidants, and other remarkable properties that make adobo a must for those who want to keep the Latin flavors we all know and love while on their health and wellness journeys.

Why is Sazon Goya bad for you? ›

Goya Sazón packs coriander, garlic and cumin into a magical little foil packet of flavor. A closer look reveals some less exciting added ingredients, including tricalcium phosphate (an anti-caking agent), Monosodium glutamate (MSG), synthetic dyes like Yellow 5 and Red 40, and a whole lot of sodium.

How do you adjust the taste of adobo? ›

The best time to adjust your adobo's flavors is at the end, before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Too acidic or dry? Add water.

Why not stir adobo? ›

It's important not to stir the simmering chicken once the vinegar is added. The vinegar tightens up the chicken, preparing it to work with the soy sauce and take on that rich brown color.

What is the best way to use adobo seasoning? ›

The best way to use adobo seasoning is as a dry rub for roasted or grilled meats, but it also works well in stews and other braised dishes. You can use it for cooking any kind of protein, including seafood and poultry, as well as chicken, pork, and beef.

Is adobo seasoning high in sodium? ›

Commercially prepared Adobo seasoning may contain over 300 mg sodium per serving. Ground annatto (achiote) may be substituted for turmeric if available. Adobo seasonings are varied and can be modified. Some recipes include cumin, coriander or annatto.

Why is it called adobo seasoning? ›

The term adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, meaning marinade. The practice of marinating meat in a flavorful mixture made from vinegar, salt, garlic, paprika, and oregano was common to Spanish cooking.

What is adobo usually made of? ›

Adobo is a dish that is usually made with meat (chicken, pork, or beef) marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and other spices. The meat is slowly cooked until it becomes tender and flavorful. Adobo is often served with rice and is a staple dish in many Filipino households.

Is adobo seasoning Mexican or Filipino? ›

Considered by many to be the national dish of the Philippines, adobo reflects the regionality of the archipelago's 7,640 islands. In some regions, coconut milk is added for adobo sa gata, and not all adobos even contain soy sauce.

What meat is adobo seasoning good for? ›

Then all the spices, not to mention, aromatics from garlic and onion add the flavor. The fun color is from the turmeric. We make a spicy adobo by adding cayenne pepper. This is an all-purpose seasoning and can be used for anything from pork, chicken, beef, and even fish.

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