Adobo Seasoning Recipe (2024)

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ByBeth Neels

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Making your own spice mixes saves you money and uses up your old spices. Adobo Seasoning is used in many traditional Latin dishes an is so versatile!

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Made in less than 5 minutes, and with only staples from your pantry, it is the perfect marinade for pork, chicken, fish, beans and even vegetables!

What is adobo seasoning?

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Adobo seasoning is a spice mix that can be a dry mix or a paste that is vinegar based. It can be just savory or have a bit of added heat.

The word adodo comes from the Spanish word “adobor” meaning to marinate. Adobo seasoning is used in many Spanish, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Mexican dishes, according to Wikipedia.

What is in Adobo Seasoning?

Most often it is made with;

  • Mexican oregano (can substitute regular oregano
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper
  • turmeric
  • kosher salt (I add the salt when I use it, to avoid clumping)

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Optional ingredients

  • chili powder, or cayenne or chipotle
  • onion powder
  • cumin
  • paprika

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How to make it

  1. Measure all ingredients. Place in mixing bowl or jar and mix well. Store in air tight container, on counter.
  2. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (5)Pin

How to Use it

Use it as a a rub for grilled meats, in guacamole, soups, chilis, refried beans, stews, eggs, fajitas,tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, nachos.

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Other easy spice mixes

  • taco seasoning
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • pickling spice
  • dry rub for pork

Tools I use to make adobo seasoning

Contains affiliate links, for full disclosure, see FTC Disclosure, here.

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That’s how easy it is to make adobo seasoning spice mix. Thanks for stopping by today!

Enjoy! And have fun cooking!

Xoxo,

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Adobo Seasoning Recipe (10)Pin

Adobo Seasoning

Make your own adobo seasoning at home and saves tons of money!

See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Spice Mixes

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Tbsp

Calories: 12kcal

Author: Beth Neels

Cost: $1

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a bowl, stir together all ingredients, Mix well.. Add a few grains of rice to soak up moisture so that salt doesn't clump up (or don't add salt until you use it.). Store in a plastic storage bag and then in a sealed in a jar away from heat. Make multiple batches, if you use a lot. It will save on time later.

Adobo Seasoning Recipe (13) See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky's Amazon Store!

Notes

Best if used within one year.

Making your own spice mixes is a great way to use up spices before they lose their potency and freshness.

Nutrition

Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Sodium: 2333mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 680IU | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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Beth Neels

Beth Neels is an entrepreneur, blogger, photographer, author, and recipe developer. She founded Binky’s Culinary Carnival in 2014, focusing on “Crafting delicious recipes with sustainable ingredients.” She has been featured in multiple online publications, including MSN, Reader’s Digest, AP news, and Parade.

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  1. how much do you use each time?

    Reply

    1. It depends on the recipe and quantity that I’m making. If you are following a recipe that calls for Adobo, just substitute this homemade version for the directions on the recipe. If you are just a just winging it, add it to taste. It doesn’t have salt, so I wouldn’t worry too much about over seasoning.

      Reply

  2. This is great Beth. I have a few spices with only a little left. I dont have the room for old and new jars so now i can use up those old ones to create this.

    Reply

    1. That’s great Kim. I know how you feel. My spice cabinet is teeming! Thanks so much for the comment!

      Reply

  3. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (15)
    Love this seasoning! I used it over chicken to make chicken adobo and it was so delicious! Perfect blend. I’ll have to make a double batch next time.

    Reply

    1. We love it too! It is so flavorful! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Emily! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  4. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (16)
    Wow, this is all new to me. I’ve never tried it before but I will now. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. I hope you enjoy it Nart! Thanks!

      Reply

  5. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (17)
    Love that I have all the spices in my pantry to make this. So easy!

    Reply

    1. That’s why it’s a good choice to make your own. Thanks so much Demeter!

      Reply

  6. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (18)
    A perfect blend of spices. Helps to make dishes yummy and delicious.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Veena! We agree with you! Have a nice weekend!

      Reply

  7. Adobo Seasoning Recipe (19)
    I love making my own spice mixes! Will be making this one soon, thank you.

    Reply

    1. Me too! It really makes so much sense to make your own, instead of having another bottle in your spice drawer.

      Reply

  8. Good post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your comment!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Adobo Seasoning Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the original ingredients in adobo? ›

Unlike the Spanish and Latin American adobo, the main ingredients of Philippine adobo are ingredients native to Southeast Asia, which includes vinegar (made from palm sap or sugarcane), soy sauce (typically substituting salt), black peppercorns, and bay leaves (traditionally Cinnamomum spp.

What are the components of adobo? ›

Most modern-day Filipino adobo is prepared with vinegar and soy sauce. Some families keep it simple with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. Others add fresh ginger or coconut milk.

How do you use adobo seasoning? ›

Dry adobo can also be used in much the same manner as any seasoning salt. You can add it to sauces, stews, soups, and at any point in a sauté or stir-fry to punch up the flavor and give it some Latin life. Sprinkle it directly on meat as you're searing, melt it down into beans, or add it to rice as you're cooking.

What is the most important ingredient in adobo? ›

Vinegar: White vinegar is the most common type to use for adobo.

What makes adobo so good? ›

The chiles are rehydrated and combined into a thick paste with an acid like vinegar or citrus juice and flavorful additions like onions, garlic, cumin, and oregano. Mexican adobo, like Spanish adobo, is often used as a marinade for meat and seafood.

What are the 2 versions of adobo? ›

Chicken adobo and pork adobo are two popular variations of adobo, a traditional Filipino dish that is made by braising meat in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. The main difference between chicken and pork adobo is, of course, the type of meat used.

What is the most common adobo? ›

Adobong Baboy and Adobong Hipon

In a country where pork is the king of all proteins, adobong baboy, or pork adobo, is the most popular, and the one that benefits most from the braising to turn the meat tender and help it soak up flavor. Especially when partnered with intensely garlicky fried rice.

Why does adobo have vinegar? ›

On the other hand, the Filipino adobo base is comprised almost exclusively of vinegar, which not only flavors but also tenderizes the meat.

What type of mixture is adobo? ›

Adobo is a sauce.

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.

Which soy sauce for adobo? ›

To make this version of Chicken Adobo with chicken breasts, use 4 medium chicken breasts, cut in half on the diagonal and trimmed. Low-sodium soy sauce or Tamari is best for this, since the sauce gets reduced; use gluten-free soy sauce if needed.

Does adobo contain onion? ›

Along with vinegar, the marinade recipe includes soy sauce, bay leaves, garlic, black peppercorns, onion, and brown sugar. It's important to note though that the type of vinegar makes a difference.

What's the difference between adobo and Sazon? ›

The counterpart to adobo seco, sazón is another Puerto Rican seasoned salt – the difference being that while adobo is primarily used to flavor meat, sazón is primarily used to flavor vegetables. Traditionally, sazón contains ground annatto (achiote molido) for color, but I can only find whole annatto seeds in my area.

Why do you not stir vinegar in adobo? ›

You can stir it while it's simmering or boiling. But, as for my father's words, do not stir it after you add the vinegar because "it may ruin the taste of the adobo." Bay leaves are quite optional to put when I cook my adobo. Salt is optional, too, because all the salty taste will be coming from the soy sauce.

How long does adobo seasoning last? ›

Once opened, adobo seasoning will maximize its flavor potency for about 6 months, and may start to lose flavor after this time, though is still safe to consume for 1-2 years as long as there is no sign of spoilage.

What is a good substitute for adobo seasoning? ›

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.

What is the difference between adobo and Sazon? ›

The counterpart to adobo seco, sazón is another Puerto Rican seasoned salt – the difference being that while adobo is primarily used to flavor meat, sazón is primarily used to flavor vegetables. Traditionally, sazón contains ground annatto (achiote molido) for color, but I can only find whole annatto seeds in my area.

Does adobo all purpose seasoning have MSG? ›

One great Seasoning That doesn't Contain MSG is Adobo All Purpose Seasoning. Goya Adobo - the perfect blend of garlic, oregano and seasonings - is all you need to make beef, chicken and fish taste great.

Is adobo seasoning the same as taco seasoning? ›

Adobo seasoning already has dried onion and garlic powder in it along with a few more spices. It really gives the taco seasoning a great flavor. Cayenne Pepper or Crushed Red Pepper - want a little more heat? Add a little bit of cayenne or crushed red pepper.

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