This seasoning sauce (aliños) is the base of a lot of traditional and popular dishes in Colombia. It's flavorful, easy to make and versatile.
What is Aliños Sauce?
It is a seasoning mixture made with vegetables and spices that my grandmother kept in her refrigerator all year-round. Every person and region has its own variation, I am sharing my family recipe.
I use Colombian Aliños as a base in some of my recipes and to marinade meat, seafood and poultry.
Ingredients to Make Aliños
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and directions is below. Some people like to add fresh cilantro to their sauce, feel free to add it if you like.
Bell Pepper: I like to use a combination of green and red pepper for flavor and color.
Onion: You can use yellow or white onion.
Scallions: I love the flavor.
Garlic: Adds that extra flavor to the sauce.
Spices: Ground cumin and sazón with azafran or color.
Water: You can add less water for a thicker sauce.
How to Make Aliños Sauce
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process to make a paste.
- Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
How to Store
Place in an airtight container in your fridge up to a month or place in the freezer in an ice cube tray like my mom used to do it, then storage the frozen aliños cubes in freezer bags and take every portion every time yo are going to use it.
Recipes to Colombian Aliños
Colombian Style Bread Chicken (Chuleta de Pollo Apanada)
Colombian Seasoning Sauce Recipe (Aliños)
Ingredients
- ½ medium green pepper chopped
- ½ medium red pepper chopped
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 4 scallions chopped
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 cup of water
- ½ tablespoon sazon with azafran or color
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process to make a paste.
- Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nancy
I usually make the Puerto Rican version of this which they call ‘sofrito’ so glad to have found a Colombian version (which is my roots)!! I made it the other day and it was super delicious! Bye bye sofrito, hello aliños!! The only thing I did different is I did not add the water but instead drizzled some olive oil while it was blending. Thanks for the recipe!
Ruth
what kind of onion besides the long green onion? Red, White, Yellow?
Erica Dinho
yellow or white
Angela Ohlheiser
Can you freeze this sauce?
Erica Dinho
Yes.
Kevin
Chimba de pagina. Ahora si voy a aprender a cocinar Colombian style
MV
Thank you for all your recipes ! I live in the US and my mom lives in Colombia now so it’s nice to have a taste of home
Emilia Pabon
Una pregunta por favor?? Que ingredientes tiene lis alinos o sazón Goya??
Kremantioqueña
How do I use triguisar?
Marietta
Hola Erica, Me encantan tus recetas. Para el aliño colombiano cocinas los vegetales?
Gracias.
Erica Dinho
No.
Nelly
I was just wondering if you are able to link or post all recipes that will use this sauce? I have made and am looking through your website and trying to see which other recipes use this sauce, but it is taking time and I still have not found any. Or at least let me know what else I can use it for...I would just hate to waste it or have it sit in my freezer.
Thanks! 🙂
Erica Dinho
Hi Nelly, You can use it to make soups, stews or to marinade meats and poultry.I have some recipes with a link to aliños.
Magda
My mom made aliños colombianos the same way. I love this site...the best traditional colombian food.