Annatto/roucou

Appears in
Eat Caribbean

By Virginia Burke

Published 2005

  • About
Sold in the form of a red powder or seeds, annatto/roucou is used as a colouring agent mostly with oil, which changes the colour of the food to a bright yellow-orange. It is often used as a cheaper substitute for saffron and has a mild, bland flavour. To make annatto oil, simply heat some annatto seeds in oil, allow to cool and then strain.