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A vibrant jar of Dominican sofrito (sazón) made with fresh peppers, culantro, onions, garlic, and cilantro.

Dominican Sofrito (Sazón) Recipe

This authentic Homemade Dominican Sofrito, also known as sazón, is a flavorful blend of fresh herbs, peppers, garlic, and onions. Use it to season your beans, soups, meats, and stews—it's a kitchen essential that saves time and adds a lot of flavor.
Servings 2
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Food processor or blender
  • Mason Jar or airtight container for storage

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 white onion
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 yellow pepper
  • 1 orange pepper
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 bunch culantro
  • 1 ½ bunch cilantro
  • 1 ½ heads of garlic (cloves separated and peeled)
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Optional but highly recommended: Break apart the 2 heads of garlic into individual cloves. Place the unpeeled cloves in a bowl of water and let them soak for 10–15 minutes. This makes peeling the garlic much easier and faster.
    Fresh ingredients for Dominican sofrito (sazón) laid out on a cutting board, including garlic, bell peppers, onions, and cilantro.
  • Drain the soaked garlic cloves and peel off the skins.
  • Roughly chop the onions, peppers, cilantro, and culantro.
    Colorful vegetables chopped and ready to blend for homemade Dominican Sofrito (sazón)
  • Add the peppers, onions, cilantro, culantro, garlic, and olive oil to a food processor and blend until smooth. 
    Tip: Don’t overfill the food processor; add ingredients in batches if needed to help it blend smoothly. If the mixture is too thick, add a small splash of water to loosen it up. I like to aim for a pesto-like consistency.
    A blender filled with fresh vegetables to make a vibrant Dominican sofrito (sazón) base.
  • Pause to scrape down the sides of the food processor as needed to ensure everything is evenly blended.
    Thick, green Dominican sofrito (sazón) blended to the perfect texture in a food processor.
  • Transfer the blended sofrito into clean mason jars or airtight containers.
    Dominican Sofrito (Sazon) in mason jar

Notes

  • Ingredient Swaps:
    Use extra cilantro if culantro is not available. You can replace bell peppers with cubanelle peppers or aji dulce.
  • Texture Tip:
    I like my sofrito with a pesto-like texture. Adding a splash of water or a bit of extra olive oil if needed helps it blend smoothly.
  • Storage Suggestions:
    Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight jar.
    For longer storage, freeze in ice cube trays, then transfer to a freezer bag.
     (Each cube is about 2 tablespoons, the perfect portion for adding to stews, beans, or meats!)
  • Versatile Use:
    Sofrito is a flavor booster for just about everything. Feel free to customize it with ingredients your family loves, it’s all about making it work for your kitchen.
  • Tip:
    Double the recipe and freeze it. You’ll thank yourself on busy nights when dinner needs to come together quickly.

Nutrition

Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 1186mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 9044IU | Vitamin C: 545mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 3mg
Author: Lucy
Calories: 436kcal
Course: Sauces & Condiments
Cuisine: Dominican
Keyword: Caribbean sofrito, Dominican sazón,, Dominican sofrito