Aceite de bija, or Achiote oil was our Abuelas secret for very beautiful dishes. Homemade Bija oil is an excellent shortcut to quickly preparing foods and adding that gorgeous color that grandma loved, and now you can learn how to make it at home and keep some at hand.
Annatto is an orange-red food coloring or condiment made from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), which grows in tropical regions in South and Central America ( 1 ). It has several other names, including achiote, achiotillo, bija, urucum, and atsuete.
About this recipe
To make the oil, the annatto seeds are removed from the pods, then steeped or cooked over very low heat in cooking oil. Other ingredients like herbs, onion, garlic cloves, and oregano can be added to add flavor to it. Once the color is extracted, we then strain it with a fine-mesh strainer.
My recipe is just taking the simple achiote oil and adding some extra flavors (oregano, thyme, and garlic). This makes it perfect to add to rice dishes and even makes some colorful scrambled eggs.
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Why we ❤️ it
Bija is one of my favorite ingredients, and Ive used it in several recipes. Its the best way to add color to a dish without altering its taste. Bija is one of our signature spices; part of our local sazón, its inexpensive, widely available in the Dominican Republic, and a very ancient ingredient in our cuisine.
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FAQ
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