This post is coming out a little earlier than originally planned. See, The CEO of Goya has made alarming and, personally insulting comments about a man who shall not be named, who keeps Immigrant Latino children in cages and actively hunts down and vilifies the Latino community. In any hispanic household you are guaranteed to find Goya products. Everything from beans to flours and the mighty omega seasoning mixes. For a man who's money and company is both reliant and dependent on the Latin American community to make the remark "We are all truly blessed to have a leader like (insert demon name here), who is a builder." Forgive me as I struggle to understand how; my children in cages, my brothers and sisters locked up in Concentration Camps, my mothers, grandmothers, grandfather and my fathers brutally separated from their families, is a blessing to not only my people- but humanity in general. Forgive me as i struggle to understand what exactly it is this demon is building for our communities besides hatred, fear and malice.
I am angry.
His remarks are a betrayal to the entire Latin American community, who has lined his and company's pockets for years. A community who has supported and integrated their products into the very fabric of our culture. What should we have expected, however, of a family that is worth $1.1 billion? At first I said- loyalty, respect, partnership. But then I did some research on the company and the family behind it. Goya is such an integral ingredient of our culture that the Latino community has assumed they are one of us. They are not. The Unane family immigrated from Spain to the United States in 1918, after a brief time in Puerto Rico. They are not Latino. They are European in origin, and despite what some may not understand (it's something I would like to explore with you further in the future if you all will stay with my ramblings) Spain- is not Latin America. Read that again.
I will return to this topic, I promise you that. Today necessitated that I post this recipe earlier than I had previously anticipated posting it. My recipe does use Goya Seasoning packets. It's often much easier to use a prepackaged seasoning package than to throw your spices together one by one. But I'm going to give you my alternative to that packaging. Because I will not be spending my hard earned money in support of a company who does not value the lives, the safety and the dignity of the people it claims to care about. We will not be doing that today or ever. I've left the original ingredients as is. Bellow you will find the alternative seasonings that can, and definitely should be used instead. I hope you forgive the abruptness of this post, and that you understand why I just needed to alter this.
I hold my heritage very close to my heart. I hold my people close to my heart, even if they do annoy me sometimes. Our food is something I will never tire of. Sure, I want to eat something different every now and then. Ok, so given a choice I tend to always go for something else. Sue me. But do I love me some good homestyle, traditional Dominican seasonings.
We like our deep bold and colorful flavors. the sweet and the spicy of our ingredients. the Sour, the rich, all of it. I've never looked at cooking as a step one two and three process. Cooking is all about personality, about expression. That's why I love it so much. It's the smells that trigger memories fo family get togethers, summer weeknights or holiday dinners. At the core is the Sazon.
Sazon
It's such a simple, complex thing of absolute beauty. No this treasure comes in many shapes, forms. From liquids to solids, to pastes, to powders. It's so versatile. It's the one thing that is integral to Dominican cooking and Dominican identity. No self respecting Dominican who cooks doesn't know the basics of the Sazon. Let me tell you there is nothing like your Abuela's Sazon. Whether she is here or departed, you spend your entire lifetime chasing that exact blended formula. That's the power of the Sazon. It's a deeply personal component. It's a literal taste expression. It's a food identity. I put my home made Sazon in literally everything I cook. Doesn't really matter what it is. I used my Pernil Sazon on a tilapia filet the other day. Just because, I just felt like it. And I'm pleased to say- it will be happening again.
I want to introduce you to my Sazon, I'm not your Abuela or anything, but I think you'll appreciate what I've offered up here. Sazon isn't rigid, it's fluid, constantly evolving changing and adjusting. That's the dance it does. It's a Sazon thing. I've got a mojo too- thats a type of Sazon used for marinades and soups. Sazon goes everywhere baby.
Duchess Sazon
Ingredients:
1 Whole Red Onion
10 Sweet Peppers
1 Red Pepper
1 Green Pepper
1 Italian Pepper
1 Head of Garlic
1 Packet of Goya Ham Seasoning* (see below)
1 Packet of Goya Sazon Seasoning with Achiote* (see below)
2Tbs Oregano
1/4 cup Naranja Agria (Bitter Orange Juice)
Splash of Water
1 cup of Cilantro
1tbs Salt
1 Tbls Black Pepper
Directions:
Throw it all in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into plastic or glass container of choice. Store in fridge for up to 2 months (can go longer however)
Duchess Tip: Omit Naranja Agria and Water and add one medium tomato to make a sofrito base. You're welcome.
Goya Packet Alternative Seasoning Mix
1 tsp Paprika
1 tbls Onion Powder
1tbl Garlic Powder
1tsp Tumeric
1tsp Achoite powder (Annato Powder)
1 tsp Cumin
For the ham seasoning packet, use some bacon fat in your dish when it's time to cook.
Mojo a la Duquesa
Ingredients
1 Bottle of Naranja Agria (bitter Orange)
1/4 cup Orange Juice
1 Green Pepper
1 Red Pepper
1 Red Onion
1 Yellow Onion
4 Celery Stalks
1 Head of Garlic
8 Sweet Peppers
Directions:
Slice Veggies, except Garlic into thin Strips (thin enough to stuff into your container of choice).
Throw all your veggies into a container of choice, I use a empty Orange Juice bottle. Whatever you want to use if fine. If you use a small container, you will need to adjust your veggie volume.
Add enough Naranja Agria to cover 3/4 of your chosen bottle. To fill the rest add orange juice.
Close and give it a good ol' shake. Shake what your mama gave you. You'll find that the bottle may feel over filled. You'd be right.
Store in fridge for 5 to 7 days. You'll notice the veggies have softened and absorbed the liquid. Add more Naranja Agria. Shake again and store. You can now begin using the mojo.
Duchess Tip: This mojo will LAST A WHILE. Keep replenishing the veggies and adding Naranja Agria. Feel free to add some heat in the form of 3 jamaican hot peppers or one small jalapeno pepper for an extra kick. My mother doesn't like spicy so I generally omit this but boy do I love me some spicy heat!
(Photo on Left is Day One)
(Photo Below is Day Seven)
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