Annatto Seeds

PURPOSE

WHAT IS IT?

What if Annatto (achiote) had a theme song? It would be Chicago’s “Color My World” because that’s exactly what it does:

Achiote is an orange-red seed of the achiote tree used for food coloring. It is an alternative to saffron, in terms of color, not flavor.

EXPERIENCE

Annatto is used most often for its pigments that make foods orange to red in color. The flavor, a bit bitter and clay-like is negligible, which is why it is so often used as a colorant.  The seed, whole, can be boiled or just soaked to get color. It can also be put into a sachet with other herbs and spices. Otherwise, it is best ground. I’ll add it to my spice mill to get a spice blend with the right color.

CULINARY GEOGRAPHY

Native to the eastern Mediterranean regions, Brazil and Southwest Asia, it is grown and prized throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the Philippines

TRADITIONAL USES

• Cheeses such as Mimolette, Red Leicester, and Cheddar use annatto to achieve an orange or red color;
• Annatto oil is commonly used in dishes like Arroz con Pollo that orange-yellow color;
• It’s the red in the Cuban beef dish Ropa Vieja;
• Poor man’s paella
• On roasted chicken or in any meat seasoning (ground);
• The colorant in arroz amarillo (yellow rice).

A FEW IMPROVISATIONAL RIFFS:

• Grind with herbs and other spices and cook in the base oil of a poppin’ poor man’s paella!
• Dress up a traditional mushroom risotto with a little ground;
• Boil annatto, vanilla, and orange peel for my creamsicle ice cream’s “artificial” orange look without going to a dangerous dye;
• Boil the seeds and tea for my Thai iced tea base.

THE BACKSTORY

The origins of the achiote are believed to be Brazil, used for ritual body painting, possibly as a sunscreen, and to ward off insects. It has been used both in foods and in early manuscript painting to replace the exquisitely expensive bug-based crimson made from cochineals.

AKA

• achiote
• atsuete
• bija
• roucou
• koesoewe
• onoto
• colorau

SEE ALSO

Ground annatto

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