History of Finadene

Finadene sauce, also known as fina'denne', is a spicy, all-purpose condiment that is a staple of Chamorro cuisine. The name finadene means "made with chili pepper" in the Chamorro language. The sauce has a long and complex history.

The earliest versions of the sauce were made with fermented coconut sap, which was called tuba. Tuba was introduced to the Mariana Islands by Filipino immigrants during the Spanish period. The tuba was combined with salt, lemon, water, and chili peppers to make the original finadene sauce.

The Japanese subsequently introduced soy sauce to the Mariana Islands in the late 19th century. Soy sauce quickly became a popular ingredient in finadene sauce, and the traditional tuba-based version of the sauce was eventually replaced. The modern version of finadene sauce is made with soy sauce, lemon juice, onion, and chili peppers.

Recipe for Finadene

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soy sauce

• 1 cup lemon juice

• 1 onion, thinly sliced

• 3-5 hot chili peppers, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, lemon juice, onion, and chili peppers.

2. Stir to combine.

3. Let the sauce sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. The longer the sauce sits, the more flavorful it will become.

Different ways to use Finadene

• As a dipping sauce

• As a marinade

• As a stir-fry sauce

• As a soup or stew ingredient

• As a condiment

I hope you enjoy this recipe for finadene sauce! It is a delicious and versatile condiment that can be used on a variety of dishes.

Let the sauciness begin,

Spencer