Adobo. We know it, we love it, we use it on everything (cue the old lady from the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce commercials). Normally when we think of adobo, we think of the pre-made kind that is easily purchased at the supermarket. This delightful mixture can be used on just about anything—meats, poultry and seafood— giving it a unique taste that leaves us going for seconds.

The word adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, which means “marinade.” The practice of using adobo in cooking first originated in the Iberian Peninsula (so Spain and Portugal) and was then brought to the Americas where each of emerging countries (colonies back then) put their own twist on it.

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Everywhere from Mexico to Peru to Puerto Rico to the Philippines developed their own version of the dry seasoning, each with their own flair and ingredients. Where Mexico has one dry version that uses chipotle and ancho peppers, Puerto Rico has two versions of it (one version uses dry ingredients only, while another introduces citrus juice and vinegar to the mix).

To be honest, there is really no wrong way to make your adobo all that matters is that your end product is some kind of delicious. Below we’ve included a simple adobo recipe that you can easily make at home with only a few ingredients.

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Homemade Adobo Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp onion
• ½ tbsp garlic
• ½ tbsp Mexican oregano
• ½ tbsp dried coriander
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• ¼ tsp chipotle powder
• ¼ tsp pasilla powder

Preparations

1. Mix all the ingredients in to a bowl and mix until evenly combined.
2. Take a small mason jar and pour in mixture.
3. Store somewhere dry.