An Easy Siboyo Tempera Recipe from Aruba (2024)

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

This super-easy siboyo tempera recipe is sure to become your summer go-to when looking for a delicious accompaniment for grilled chicken, steak or seafood.

Siboyo Tempera is a Popular Side Dish or Condiment in Aruba

Made of slivered marinated onions and Madame Jeanette hot peppers (known as Madame Janette peppers in Aruba), this sauce is incredibly versatile and offers the perfect combination of heat and sweetness that works with every dish from breakfast to late night snacks.

And best of all, it stays fresh in the fridge for several days — assuming of course, it doesn’t disappear in one day it’s so good.

I first discovered this classic Aruban dish during a welcome dinner at the Old Man and the Sea Ocean Villas in the fishing village of Savaneta on the Caribbean island of Aruba.

It was a side dish tucked on the table without much fanfare beside our plates of keshi yena, a ground beef dish that’s also a traditional dish on Aruba.

Although I was momentarily distracted by the stunning sunset shape-shifting over the blue Caribbean water, it didn’t take long before I got to wondering what it was that the locals at our dinner table were spooning on their food with so much enthusiasm.

Siboyo Tempera – Onion Salsa Recipe from Aruba

Similar to escabeche, a dish popular in Latin America, siboyo tempera is made of marinated onions and hot peppers.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the cultivation of onions dates back more than 5,00 years and they’re very high in good-for-you antioxidants? Learn more fun facts about onions and why you should eat more of them!

The beauty of this dish is that the onions are soaked in water which reduces their bite and the heat is delivered by the slivers of Madame Jeanette pepper rather than jalapenos.

For those of you who think cilantro tastes like soap, you’ll be happy to hear that authentic siboyo tempera contains no cilantro.

Hot Peppers are Key to Authentic Siboyo Tempera

The Madame Jeanette pepper hails from Suriname and is the key ingredient in many West Indian salsas. Given how close Aruba is to South America it makes perfect sense that this pepper is popular in Aruba. Despite herdainty-sounding name, Madame Jeanette is a fiery hot pepper.

On the Scoville Pepper Index it clocks in between 200,000 to 300,000 heat units which puts in on par with habanero. But rather than being simply scorching hot, Madame Jeanette has a sweetness that makes it especially delicious. Make sure you wear gloves when working with her.

Where to Try Siboyo Tempera in Aruba

This particular siboyo tempera recipe comes from Chef Annelotte Ellis, a talented Aruban chef who has built a stellar reputation on her innovative use of local ingredients, passion for Aruban culinary traditions and culinary skills. If you have an opportunity to sample one of her dishes, you’re in for the experience of a lifetime.

You can often find her creating something delicious at Aruba Ocean Villas or her new restaurant Delicious. You can also find siboyo tempera at Zeerovers, a popular seafood restaurantset right on the waterfront in Savaneta

Try this recipe for siboyo tempera this summer!

Interested in more delicious recipes, travel tips and information about travel to Aruba? Check out these posts:

Beer and Balsamic Marinade for BBQ Steak

Renaissance Private Island: A Top Luxury Experience in Aruba

6 Girlfriend Getaways You’ll Love

Diving into Dutch Tapas at Cafe 080 Restaurant Bar on Aruba