Annatto Oil Recipe
This vibrant Annatto Oil adds color and flavor to countless dishes and comes together with just four ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup neutral-flavored oil
- ¼ cup annatto seeds
- 3 smashed garlic cloves
- ½ peeled, thinly sliced shallot
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a medium-sized pot and simmer over low to medium heat for 10 minutes. The shallots and garlic will start to fry slightly.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cool to room temperature before using.
Notes
Be careful of stains! This is my #1 tip for anyone who wants to tackle this recipe. That red color in the oil sure is impressive, but it isn’t fun to clean from your white or light-colored countertops, clothing, etc. I wear culinary gloves and an apron, and I keep the heat on low-medium when making this to avoid any splatter.
Use whole seeds: Remember to buy whole annatto seeds, not annatto powder or achiote paste. Annatto powder can be used (more on this below), but it’s harder to strain. Furthermore, achiote paste is usually already seasoned, which will throw off the flavors in your oil.
Annatto powder: You can technically make annatto oil with ground achiote/annatto seeds the same way as if you used whole seeds. You’ll just need to strain the oil through cheesecloth or a nut milk bag instead. Do this a couple of times or until the oil is smooth.
Don’t burn the seeds: It only took me 10 minutes to simmer the seeds in the warm oil. I keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn, too. Burnt annatto seeds tend to taste bitter.
Annatto substitute: The oil will be different, but if you need a substitute for annatto seeds, try a 1:1 mix of paprika and turmeric.
Make-Ahead: You can make annatto oil up to 1 hour ahead of time.
How to Store: Annato Oil keeps well for up to 1 month in a sealed glass container at room temperature.
More flavors: When I’m feeling creative, I’ll add a bay leaf, chile peppers, black peppercorns, or oregano sprigs to the oil mixture for more layers of flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 2003kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 224gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 63gMonounsaturated Fat: 142gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 0.3mg