Uses for Adobo Seasoning

Adobo seasoning is a basic ingredient in taco filling.

There are three basic types of adobo: adobo sauce, a vinegary marinade used for various Latino meat dishes; pork or chicken adobo, a Filipino dish made with soy sauce, spices and vinegar; and adobo seasoning, a Latin American spice mixture used in many Mexican recipes. Despite the fact that all three use the same word, they are each different, and not interchangeable with one another.

Adobo Seasoning Basics

Adobo seasoning may have any number of spice combinations, but it usually starts with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano and salt. It may also contain black pepper, hot pepper, cumin, lemon or sour orange. Homemade adobo seasoning blends can be customized to suit your taste, by using less or no salt, more or less heat, different types of ground pepper and different levels of garlic and onion. Adobo seasoning is also available commercially in any market that carries Latin foods.

Meats, Poultry and Fish

Use adobo seasoning as a rub for ribs, pork chops and poultry before grilling. Mix the seasoning with olive oil and citrus juice for a quick homemade marinade for beef, chicken or shrimp. Sprinkle the seasoning into chili, soups and stews, adjusting the salt accordingly. Adobo seasoning is also used to flavor ground beef, shredded pork or chicken for taco meat and burrito filling; simply cook the meat and add the seasoning to taste.

Grains and Beans

Make your rice and beans stand out by cooking them with adobo seasoning. Prepare white or brown rice as you normally do, but add some adobo with sour orange or lemon to the boiling water with a drizzle of olive oil. Simmer red, pink or black beans with a little tomato sauce, sofrito -- a bell pepper-based sauce, chopped onion and 1 tsp. of hot adobo seasoning per lb. of beans, or to taste. Serve the beans and rice together.

Sauces

Spicy adobo adds a kick to homemade salsa and guacamole. To make your own salsa, chop fresh tomatoes, onion, green pepper and jalapeno pepper. Stir in 1 tsp. of olive oil and lime juice per tomato, then gradually add adobo seasoning to taste. Allow the salsa to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours so the flavors meld. Add spicy adobo seasoning to your favorite recipe for enchilada sauce, barbecue sauce and spaghetti sauce.

References

• Colonel De: Adobo Seasoning

Resources

• Goya: Adobo
• Chow: Adobo Seasoning Recipe