If you just came across achiote paste for the first time in one of your recipes, you’re in for a treat! This is one of the ingredients that helped us open an entirely new world of cooking because of its spicy, savory flavors.
Achiote paste is prevalent in Mexican, Caribbean, and Central American cuisines, used as a coloring and flavoring in numerous dishes.
While you can typically find achiote paste in well-stocked supermarkets or online stores, there are times we either want something new or run out of it without knowing. That’s where achiote paste comes to the rescue!
Read on as we explain these substitutes and a bit more about the spicy and flavorful achiote paste.
What’s the Best Substitute For Achiote Paste?
We also call achiote paste recado Rojo, a Latin ingredient you can find in Belizean and Mexican cuisines, especially in Oaxaca and Yucatan. It’s bright red with a slightly tangy taste, adding flavor to chicken, stews, rice, and other meat dishes.
Usually, we would cook achiote paste in oil or lard before adding it to dishes. You can also use it as a rub or marinade to meats about 4-6 hours before cooking, giving your meats a ton of flavor!
Regardless of why you need an achiote paste replacement, there are five options to choose from, which are:
1. Harissa Paste
Harissa paste consists of chilies, caraway seeds, coriander, and garlic.
We love the intense flavor of this chili paste, adding heat to any dish, particularly in France and North Africa cuisine. You can even use harissa as a sandwich spread, though we usually eat harissa with lamb dishes.
We can make this paste from different chilies, so it’s worth checking the label to get a gist of how spicy it is. Expect a rich and smoky flavor similar to cayenne pepper and paprika.
You can make harissa yourself or find it in grocery stores and Middle Eastern markets. If you have harissa, use an equal 1:1 ratio when substituting achiote paste.
Learn more: 9 Harissa Substitute to Make Your Meals Lit!
2. Sambal Oelek
Sambal Oelek is an Indonesian chili paste made from red chilies, sugar, salt, and vinegar. You can find this ingredient in Asian grocery stores, online stores, or major supermarkets.
While we like this chili paste, it’s much saltier than other chili pastes because it contains more salt. We recommend using sambal oelek as a marinade or in stir-fry recipes, giving dishes more heat and smokiness like achiote paste.
Like harissa paste, you can make sambal oelek with any chili pepper, either red or green, whatever you prefer!
Learn more: Sambal Oelek Substitute: 12 Spices Will Set You on Fire!
3. Cumin and Cayenne Pepper
Cumin is an aromatic and peppery spice working well as an achiote paste alternative. While you can use it on its own, we recommend mixing equal amounts of cayenne pepper for added heat or even cilantro!
However, note that cumin has a slightly bitter taste, so we recommend using it for soups, stews, or marinades, calling for achiote paste. It pairs well with garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
4. Guajillo Chili Powder
As the name suggests, guajillo chili powder comes from ground guajillo chilies, having a similar flavor to ancho and chipotle peppers, all of which are commonly found and used in Mexican dishes. You can create your own guajillo chili powder by grinding dried guajillo chilies and combining them with other spices.
That said, guajillo chilies aren’t as spicy, so it works as a substitute for achiote paste without reaching for cold cups of milk! It works best as a marinade for fish and chicken or in other savory recipes looking for achiote paste.
You can always use hot sauce like sriracha if you want another substitute. It doesn’t have paste-like consistency or smokiness but is thicker than other hot sauces and packs on the heat. It’s also readily available in many groceries!
BONUS: Make Your Own Achiote Paste Substitute
Get Recipe: chilipeppermadness.com
You can always make your own if you want a more authentic flavor to your substitution. It doesn’t get better than that!
However, it may take a few minutes off your prep time, so this may not be for you if you’re in a hurry. Moreover, you’ll need to prepare certain ingredients that might not be readily available!
But if you have time and the ingredients, then follow this recipe
- ¼ cup of annatto
- One tablespoon of coriander seeds
- One tablespoon of dried oregano
- One tablespoon of cumin seeds
- One teaspoon of black peppercorns
- Two whole cloves
- One teaspoon of kosher salt
- Five cloves of peeled and coarsely chopped garlic
- ½ cup of bitter orange juice (you can also use 1/3 cup white vinegar or ¼ cup of orange juice with ¼ cup of Mexican lime juice)
-HOW TO MAKE-
Directions:
- Use a spice mill or mortar and pestle to grind the annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, peppercorns, and cloves.
- Mix the ground spices with garlic, salt, and bitter orange juice. Please place it in the blender, letting it process until it has a smooth consistency.
- Store the paste in an airtight container and place it in the fridge.
Pro-tip: If you’re in a pinch and have annatto seeds on hand, you can make a quick paste by mixing annatto seeds with oil or lard. Add your desired seasonings for added flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
For those left with questions regarding achiote paste, we answer them below:
Wrapping It Up
Achiote paste might be challenging to find for some of you, but that doesn’t mean you should scrap your recipe and call it a failure! Use any of these replacements from our list and create a delicious dish to serve.
Summary
You can use various substitutes for achiote paste-like harissa, sambal oelek, guajillo chili powder, or even make your own.
If you want to learn more about food substitutions and other handy information regarding cooking and drinks, check out our other blog posts now!
Up Next: Best Chili Paste Substitute (#2 You Might Have NOW)
