Tastessence

Substitutes, page 5

Out of an ingredient? Find the best substitute for it: what works, in what ratio, and how the swap changes flavor and texture.

Substitutes

Bowls of kosher salt, table salt, and sea salt showing their different grain textures side by side

Strikingly Perfect Substitutes for Kosher Salt - Choose Any

Being flaky and coarse, kosher salt is not preferred for some types of cooking. The degree of saltiness does not vary between kosher salt and its substitutes. After dissolving in water all salt taste the same. The difference is the size, texture, and nature of grains. Same measurements may not work, because each type of salt is available in different grain sizes.

Bottles of sherry, gin, and white wine beside a bowl of rice, common substitutes for rice wine

4 Awesome Substitutes for Rice Wine That are Equally Good

Rice wine originated in Southeast Asia, where it is available in different types that vary in color and flavor. While Sake is a Japanese rice wine, Huangjiu and Choujiu are produced in China. Kulapo is a reddish rice wine from the Philippines, whereas Makgeolli from Korea has a milky consistency. If a recipe calls for rice wine, which is not easily available in your area, go for its substitutes.

Bottles of olive, avocado, and sunflower oil arranged as grapeseed oil substitutes alongside fresh grapes

Grape Seed Oil Substitute

Grape seed oil is extracted from the seeds of grapes and has many culinary uses. Read this article to know more about substitutes of grape seed oil.

Milk, cream, and melting butter arranged on a kitchen counter as homemade half-and-half substitute ingredients

Half and Half Substitutes

A perfect addition to coffee, garlic mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, if you use it instead of evaporated milk, half and half, is an extremely good item which can replace heavy cream in multiple dishes, being slightly more rounded than milk is. However, what does one do if the stocks of half and half are running dry? Simple, make your own half and half substitute, with the following recipes.

Shallots, small white onions, and scallions arranged on a wooden cutting board as substitute ingredients

Shallot Substitutes

Though a few substitutes for shallot do exist, they cannot completely imitate its unique flavor and taste. Shallots are basically small onion bulbs that grow in clusters, just like garlic. Find out how to replace shallots in cooking by going through this Tastessence article.

Bowls of tapioca flour, cornstarch, arrowroot, and rice flour arranged on a wooden counter

Tapioca Flour Substitutes That Do Not Compromise on Taste

Tapioca flour is commonly used as a food thickener. Tapioca flour is a natural ingredient and is free from gluten. Apart from changing the composition of food, it also renders a unique taste to it. If you ever run short of tapioca flour, you can use its substitutes as well. Substitutes with approximate quantity will help thicken food.

Celery stalks, bok choy, and Belgian endive arranged as fresh substitutes for fennel

The Ultimate and Absolute Substitutes to Perfectly Replace Fennel

Fennel has the ability to enhance the taste of any dish that it is added to. Don’t have fennel at home? Don’t worry, you can always use its substitutes to prepare the desired recipe. This Tastessence post tells you what can be the perfect replacement for fennel.

Coarse golden turbinado sugar crystals spilling from a wooden scoop beside a bowl of brown sugar

Running Out of Turbinado Sugar? Then Try These Substitutes

Turbinado is a minimally processed sugar that is light brown in color. This sugar retains much of the natural molasses found in sugarcane juice. Find out what can be substituted for this sugar in a recipe, if you happen to run out of this sugar or could not find it in your local market.

A bowl of white arrowroot powder with raw arrowroot root pieces and a wooden spoon on a kitchen counter.

Arrowroot Substitute

Arrowroot has been used as an ingredient in different recipes as a thickening agent. But sometimes, it can also be replaced with other edible substances. To know about the substitutes, read this article.

Fresh thyme sprigs beside rosemary, oregano, and marjoram on a wooden cutting board

Thyme Substitutes

Substituting thyme may not be as easy as it sounds, because none of the other herbs match the distinct flavor of thyme. Yet, there are certain herbs that can work as thyme substitutes, which although do not mimic thyme exactly, impart a nice flavor to the dishes.

Bowls of maple sugar crystals beside white and brown sugar substitutes on a wooden counter

Maple Sugar Substitutes

Maple sugar is a sweetener obtained by boiling maple syrup. It can be substituted with common refined sugar and a few other sweeteners. Find out more about the various sweeteners that can substitute maple sugar in a recipe, in this Tastessence article.

Garlic cloves, minced onion, and garlic powder arranged with ghee as asafoetida substitutes

Asafoetida Substitutes That are Easily Available in the Kitchen

Asafoetida is one of the best substitutes for onion and garlic in a dish, and has been used by Indians for a very long time now. Generally known as a digestion booster, asafoetida is however cut with wheat flour pretty often, which makes it a no-no for gluten intolerant people. So, here are some substitutes that you can use if you know what this spice does to your delicacies.

A stick of butter, a dish of vegetable oil, and a block of shortening arranged on a kitchen counter as margarine substitutes

This is Where You’ll Find Viable Substitutes for Margarine

DID YOU KNOW: A particular Harvard Medical study that was conducted a few years back reported that if women who consume margarine, would consume an equal amount of butter, then they would be at a reduced risk of deriving heart problems by at least 53%. Need more reason to opt for substitutes of margarine? Find listed in the article below all the viable margarine substitutes that you can opt for.

Fresh chives bundled on a wooden board next to scallions and shallots, common substitutes for chives

Chives Substitute

If you are keen on knowing what are chives and their manifold uses, then read the following Tastessence article, which provides a world of information on the same.

Fresh oregano, marjoram, basil, and parsley sprigs arranged on a wooden board as herb substitute options

Different Oregano Substitutes to Use Based on the Type of Dish

There are some who are allergic to oregano and, therefore, have to look for possible oregano alternatives so as to avoid changing the taste of the dishes that use generous sums of this herb. This post will tell you about a few good oregano substitutes that make way for only very little taste variations.

Bottles of dark balsamic, golden rice, and red wine vinegar with small tasting dishes on a kitchen counter

Run Out of Balsamic Vinegar? Don’t Worry, Here are the Substitutes

Balsamic vinegar is made from boiled grape juice, which is subjected to a slow aging process, which can be as long as 12 to 25 years. Find out what can be used to substitute this special vinegar, if you happen to run out of stock or could not find it in your local market, but still want to relish a dish that calls for this vinegar.

Small bowls of raw cane sugar, brown sugar, honey, and coarse sugar crystals on a wooden table

Granulated Sugar Substitutes

Looking for a good substitute for granulated sugar, as going to the grocer’s right now is something you want to avoid? This Tastessence article gives you a list of all the substances you can use instead of granulated sugar.

Dark balsamic vinegar and olive oil being combined as a dressing, a substitute for sherry vinegar

Retaining the Exotic Flavor of Sherry Vinegar With its Substitutes

Balsamic vinegar is Italy’s answer to sherry vinegar. It is known for the unique sweet flavor that it adds to food. A few drops of balsamic vinegar, when added to meat, fish, and fruits, enhances the taste of the preparation. Balsamic vinegar should be used in the proportion 3:1, that is, 3 portions of balsamic vinegar and one portion of olive oil. Some people like to sip on balsamic vinegar with their food. It is a favorite for salad dressings, as it can mix well with oil.

Fresh tarragon sprigs beside chervil, parsley, and dried tarragon on a wooden board

8 Tarragon Substitutes That Work as Well as the Herb Itself

Did you know you can also use frozen tarragon in the place of fresh tarragon? Just store fresh whole tarragon sprigs in air-tight bags in the refrigerator for up to 3 - 5 months. These bags will ensure that the flavor gets locked in. You don’t even need to defrost the frozen sprigs before using it in a dish. Works wonders.

A bowl of homemade cultured cream with a spoon, next to cream and buttermilk used as crème fraîche substitutes

Excellent Creme Fraiche Substitutes That Lie in Your Kitchen

7.5 oz. of crème fraîche can cost you about USD 6. Besides, up to 90% of the calories in this cream comes from fat and only 15 grams has a saturated fat content of nearly 4 grams. To add to this alarming factor, 15 mg of cholesterol is also present in the same amount of crème fraîche. Want viable crème fraîche substitutes now? You have then found yourself the correct page. Find out about crème fraîche substitutes from the following paragraphs.

A beef steak marinating beside a bottle of Italian dressing and fresh lemons on a kitchen counter

Absolutely Genius Lemon Juice Substitutes You Can Use

Did you know you can actually use bottled Italian salad dressing in place of lemon juice when making a beef steak marinade? Genius, isn’t it?! For those who are allergic to citrus fruits like lemon or are simply out of it, some lemon juice substitutions will work just fine.

Agar-agar flakes, arrowroot powder, and a jar of set gel, natural substitutes for gelatin

Gelatin Substitutes

Gelatin is a protein derived from the hydrolysis of the connective tissues of animals. It has found a wide range of applications in the manufacturing of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Find out what can be used to substitute this product in a recipe, through this Tastessence write-up.