Published November 7, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy-to-make homemade sazón recipe is a unique blend of toasted spices and herbs that are ground down and used to enhance the flavor of many Latin American dishes. You won’t believe how simple this is to prepare and the peace that comes with knowing the ingredients.
Using seasoning blends and rubs can help enhance the taste of any recipe, and often, you already have all the ingredients necessary to make them. If you want to start making them yourself, check out my all-purpose chicken seasoning or blackened seasoning.
Sazón
Sazón is a popular Latin American spice and herb blend commonly consisting of achiote, garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. It is a ground seasoning important in Caribbean and Latin cuisine. To me, it’s as much of a staple in Latin cooking as sofrito.
The word itself translates simply to seasoning, so there certainly can be some variation in the blend of spices and herbs. However, when Spanish-speaking folks use the word sazón, what they really mean is flavor, and with all the delicious ingredients in it, I can see why. Think of it as Lawry’s or Old Bay seasoning.
While you can buy this premade and offered by several brands, I find that those are loaded with food dyes and ingredients that aren’t the best for human consumption. Making this homemade is extremely easy; the flavors mimic the pre-packaged brands and are possibly better.
History of Sazón
Jose Ortega developed the seasoning at a job in Puerto Rico and perfected the ingredient blend. He then pushed it to local grocery stores to help sell it. According to CBS, the process of creating it began to change, so Ortega partnered with Goya over 50 years ago to keep the original recipe intact.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Annatto – I used annatto seeds in this spice rub as they are classically used in sazón. You can also buy ground annatto. However, paprika is a good substitute. This is the same ingredient I used in my achiote paste recipe.
- Turmeric – Ground turmeric adds more earthy flavors to the spice.
- Garlic – I used granules, but powder may also be used.
- Onion – I prefer to use granules as I feel they’re more flavorful. However, powder may be used.
- Coriander – Whole coriander seeds are toasted and ground down for bright flavors.
- Oregano – Any dry oregano will work. Substitute with dry basil if that is all you have available.
- Salt – I always used coarse salt in my cooking and baking.
- Pepper — Ground white pepper blended better with the mix. Although black pepper can be used, I did not want big specks in it.
- Cumin – Whole seeds were toasted for more flavor and aroma and then ground and added.
How to Make Homemade Sazón
Add the annatto seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds to a medium-sized frying pan.
Cook the spices over low to medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes while frequently stirring.
Once they become slightly toasted, you’ll notice that the annatto seeds start to bleed their color into the pan, and the coriander and cumin will get light brown around the edges. In addition, they’ll become very aromatic.
Next, transfer the mixture of toasted spices to a spice grinder or mortar, pestle, and grind until finely ground.
Transfer to a bowl, or add the garlic granules, onion granules, oregano, turmeric, salt, and pepper, and pulse the spice grinder to mix it.
Taste the mixture and see if it needs more salt or pepper.
Store or try the sazón spice blend in my Colombian chicken stew recipe.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this homemade sazón several weeks before you are ready to use it.
How to Store: Place it in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.
Chef Notes + Tips
- Annatto seeds, also called achiote, are the seeds of the achiote tree. They are often used as natural food coloring and spice in Latin cuisine. They are sweet and peppery with an earthy finish.
- When you toast whole spices, they become more flavorful and aromatic to whatever you use them in, like in my garam masala.
- You can make the spice blend entirely out of pre-ground spices. Just mix it.
- This is harder to make in a mortar and pestle due to the annatto seeds, but it can be done.
More Spice Blend Recipes
Homemade Sazón Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons annatto seeds
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon garlic granules
- 1 tablespoon onion granules
- 1 tablespoon dry oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- Add the annatto seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds to a medium-sized frying pan.
- Cook the spices over low to medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes while frequently stirring.
- Once they become slightly toasted, you’ll be able to notice that the annatto seeds start to bleed their color into the pan and the coriander and cumin will get light brown around the edges. In addition, they’ll become very aromatic.
- Next, transfer the mixture of toasted spices to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind until finely ground.
- Transfer to a bowl, or add in the garlic granules, onion granules, oregano, turmeric, salt, and pepper, and pulse the spice grinder just to mix it.
- Taste the mixture and see if it needs more salt or pepper.
- Store or try the sazón spice blend in my Colombian chicken stew recipe.
Homemade Sazón Recipe