Homemade Adobo and Sazon Seasonings

2/06/2013 *Sara-Marie* 70 Comments

In Puerto Rican cooking, we tend to use Goya Adobo and Goya Sazon to season rice, stews, meats, everything. I've been trying to use less of it due to the MSG and other additives but I just can't make "my chicken" without it. Then I thought, there's gotta be a way to make it at home. Goya hasn't been around forever and I'm sure my great grandmothers cooked just fine without it. So I put on my thinking cap and made my own spice blends that taste exactly the same if not better! Yay! I can still enjoy the flavors of my heritage without the MSG!

Homemade Adobo Seasoning Recipe

Recipe Ingredients:

• 2 TBSP salt (I use Kosher salt)
• 1 TBSP ground black pepper
• 1 TBSP garlic powder
• 1 TBSP dried oregano
• 1/2 TBSP turmeric 

Recipe Directions:

1. Mix all spices into an airtight container and give it a good shake. If you have a spice grinder, that would give you the same feel as Goya Adobo, but I kind of liked the coarse blend.

NOTE: I stored the spice mixture in a small glass mason jar with an airtight lid.

Homemade Sazon Seasoning Recipe
Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 TBSP salt (I use Kosher salt)
• 1 TBSP ground black pepper
• 1 TBSP garlic powder
• 1 TBSP dried oregano
• 1 TBSP ground coriander
• 1 TBSP ground cumin
• 1 TBSP ground annato (or grind your own annato seeds)

Recipe Directions:
1. Mix all spices into an airtight container and give it a good shake. If you can only find annato seeds, instead of ground annato, you'll want to use a spice grinder.

NOTE: Again, I stored the spice mixture in a small glass mason jar with an airtight lid. If you're used to using the Goya Sazon packets, 1/2 TBSP of the spice blend is equivalent to 1 packet. Also, using this Sazon will give your food a more brownish red color instead of the bright orange you may be used to from the store bought kind. Considering annato seeds are a more brownish red color naturally, I bet the bright orange color comes from something fake. I rather not!


Please let me know your thoughts!

XOXO,
SMP

Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe

2/05/2013 *Sara-Marie* 0 Comments

Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe
This mango salsa is so easy to put together and so yummy! It's sweet and spicy and I enjoyed mine tonight over some Puerto Rican style ground beef. I think it would also go great in a salad, over chicken or fish.  Enjoy!

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 cup of diced mango chunks
• 1/2 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, diced (I used orange)
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely diced
• 2 TBSP fresh mint, chopped
• 2 TBSP orange juice (I used Simply Orange)

 Recipe Directions

1. Mix all ingredients into a medium sized bowl and consume!


Let me know what you think!

XOXO,
SMP