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You may find yourself in a situation where you don’t have or like a spice or dried herb that a recipe calls for. Fear not. This chart will help you choose substitutions or alternatives that should work with your recipe. Whenever substituting, be aware that the flavor will not be as originally intended in the recipe, so it might be prudent to begin your substitution with half of the amount called for in the recipe, and then adjust to your own personal tastes.
Spice Substitutions
| |
| Allspice | Cinnamon; cassia; dash of nutmeg or mace; or dash of cloves |
| Aniseed | Fennel seed or a few drops anise extract |
| Cardamom | Ginger |
| Chili Powder | Dash bottled hot pepper sauce plus a combination of oregano and cumin |
| Cinnamon | Nutmeg or allspice (use only 1/4 of the amount) |
| Cloves | Allspice; cinnamon; or nutmeg |
| Cumin | Chili powder |
| Ginger | Allspice; cinnamon; mace; or nutmeg |
| Mace | Allspice; cinnamon; ginger; or nutmeg |
| Nutmeg | Cinnamon; ginger; or mace |
| Saffron | Dash of turmeric (for color) |
Herb Substitutions
| |
| Basil | Oregano or thyme |
| Chervil | Tarragon or parsley |
| Chive | Green onion; onion; or leek |
| Cilantro | Parsley |
| Italian Seasoning | Blend of any of these: basil, oregano, rosemary, and ground red pepper |
| Marjoram | Basil; thyme; or savory |
| Mint | Basil; marjoram; or rosemary |
| Oregano | Thyme or basil |
| Parsley | Chervil or cilantro |
| Red Pepper | Dash bottled hot pepper sauce or black pepper |
| Rosemary | Thyme; tarragon; or savory |
| Sage | “Poultry” seasoning; savory; marjoram; or rosemary |
| Savory | Thyme; marjoram; or sage |
| Tarragon | Chervil; dash fennel seed; or dash aniseed |
| Thyme | Basil; marjoram; oregano; or savory |
