If you’ve ever been invited to someone’s home for authentic Puerto Rican food (usually prepared by a mom or grandmother but sometimes dads too), licked your fingers and said, “that was deeelicious and so tasty, what did you use for seasoning?”  This may sound familiar to you. The response you probably received was: “you like it because I made it with love.”   Well, I am Puerto Rican and am here to tell you there’s more to it. It was love… and a little Adobo.

Normally I wouldn’t reveal this secret ingredient (a staple in most Hispanic households) but it doesn’t matter because it’s too late. The secret has been out for years. I’m increasingly seeing Adobo show up anywhere from entree descriptions at fusion-style restaurants to on the shelves at most major food retailers.

I kind of liked it when I had to travel into the city to a Hispanic specialty food store or ‘Bodega’ to pick up this bottled salty, garlicky goodness. I guess it’s not a bad thing that Adobo is now available at my local Starbucks.  Just making sure you were still with me.

If you’ve never used Adobo Seasoning and are tempted to purchase some on your next supermarket run, be forewarned…once you start you can’t stop. I’m not kidding. Your hand will somehow make its way across the counter various times to grab the Adobo when preparing meals. Even when something is pre-seasoned.

A sprinkle for taste. A few dashes just in case…and one more shake for good luck!

It’s definitely a problem (in my house at least) but a tasty one.  Go Goya.

What’s your favorite “go to” seasoning?