What is adobo sauce made of?

Adobo sauce is typically made from dried chili peppers (like ancho or guajillo), vinegar, garlic, and spices such as cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and cloves. In a good adobo sauce recipe , tomato paste or puree is added for body, while brown sugar balances the heat and tang.

What is a good substitute for adobo sauce?

If you’re out of adobo sauce, a quick blend of chipotle chili powder, tomato paste, vinegar, and garlic can work in a pinch. Alternatively, try smoky hot sauce or a spoonful of harissa for a similar depth, though nothing beats a homemade adobo sauce recipe for authentic flavor.

What ingredients are in adobo?

Adobo refers to both the sauce and the marinade. Key ingredients include dried chiles, garlic, vinegar, salt, and spices. A traditional adobo sauce recipe may also include sweeteners and tomato elements to create a rich, complex flavor.

What’s the difference between chipotle sauce and adobo sauce?

Chipotle sauce is often creamy and uses chipotle peppers as a base. Adobo sauce, in contrast, is a spiced chili paste or marinade. A classic adobo sauce recipe has a thicker texture and less dairy, making it ideal for cooking meats or seasoning beans.

What is the difference between Mexican adobo and Filipino adobo?

Mexican adobo is a chili-based sauce used for marinades, while Filipino adobo refers to a cooking method using vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. Despite sharing a name, the flavor profiles are quite different, and the Mexican adobo sauce recipe is typically spicier and smokier.

Where would I find adobo sauce in a grocery store?

In most grocery stores, adobo sauce is found in the international or Latin foods aisle. Look for it in cans labeled "chipotle peppers in adobo sauce." Or better yet, skip the search and use this homemade adobo sauce recipe to make your own from scratch.

Adobo Sauce Recipe: 5-Minute Bold Flavor That Tastes Homemade

Description

This homemade adobo sauce recipe is bold, smoky, and bursting with flavor. Made with dried chiles, garlic, spices, and vinegar, it’s the perfect pantry-friendly sauce for marinades, tacos, beans, or roasted vegetables — ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

4–5 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
1 cup boiling water (for soaking chiles)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 garlic cloves
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
¾ cup chile soaking water (or cold water to thin)

adobo sauce recipe

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Soak chiles in hot water for 20 minutes until softened.
Add softened chiles, tomato paste, garlic, vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, clove, brown sugar, salt, and soaking water to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour mixture into a saucepan and simmer for 8–10 minutes over medium-low heat to deepen flavor and slightly thicken.
Let cool and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Blended adobo sauce being poured into saucepan

Notes

You can freeze extra sauce in ice cube trays and store cubes in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
This recipe is medium-spicy; adjust the number of chiles to increase or decrease heat.
Use guajillo chiles as a milder alternative to ancho if needed.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Sauces
Method: Blended & Simmered
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Calories: 18
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 140mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 3g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g