Accent seasoning has a unique, delicious flavor and is called upon often for several recipes. It’s popular and works pretty well with Asian cuisine as well. While it is popular in the USA, it isn’t as readily available elsewhere. Additionally, the seasoning relies heavily on MSG, which is a big reason why many people look for accent seasoning substitutes.
Well, if you’re looking for an alternative because you’re out of accent seasoning, want to avoid MSG, or for anything else, we’ve got the answers.
Accent seasoning is an excellent flavor enhancer. So, we’ll want the substitutes to show the same ability. Let’s see what can work as well.
12 Accent Seasoning Substitutes To Try
1. Table Salt
Table salt is the safest, quickest bet for replacing accent seasoning in a recipe. The seasoning includes a fair amount of salt, so the use of table salt doesn’t throw off the flavoring. However, it lacks other ingredients like spices and herbs. Yet, for many recipes, salt can be a simple and convenient option.
2. Sea Salt
Salts are good alternatives to accent seasoning, simply because it has a dominant salty taste. There’s already table salt, but if you want a different flavor, try sea salt.
This is usually milder than table salt, thanks to the presence of salts of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in addition to sodium. By comparison, the average table salt is almost completely sodium chloride. For this reason, many people consider sea salt to be a healthier alternative to conventional table salt.
3. China Salt (Ajinomoto)
China salt is basically MSG (monosodium glutamate). Ajinomoto is the company most famous for the sale of this salt. The company is so successful, its name has become synonymous with China salt or MSG.
MSG is a key ingredient in accent seasoning. China salt itself is a type of salt, which explains the saltiness of the seasoning. MSG is extracted from foods and often works as a flavor enhancer. Adding ajinomoto to a recipe usually gives it that wonderful umami touch, adding to its deliciousness.
There have been sustained doubts about the health effects of MSG but there is no scientific evidence to support such claims. The FDA categorizes this as “generally recognized to be safe”. To simplify, this means don’t eat too much of it, which makes sense, considering this is a salt. I wouldn’t eat too much table salt either!
MSG represents a sodium salt of glutamic acid. This is a common amino acid naturally present in our bodies and many foods.
4. Bouillon Powder
Bouillon Powder is the most suitable replacement for accent seasoning. It is readily available and has a very similar taste profile. Bouillon Powder is made from different seasonings and includes salt, MSG, dehydrated veggies, meat stock, and some fat.
It is available in several types and styles. For replacing accent seasoning, it’s best to go with a powdered version.
5. Korean Bamboo Salt
This is an expensive and practically gourmet option. Korean Bamboo Salt (Jugyeom) is an old Korean recipe that involves processing sea water with bamboo until the salt is obtained. It has a mild sulfur aroma, a good flavor, and is a light salt. This is an expensive salt, so keep that in mind when considering its use.
6. Cajun Seasoning
Cajun seasoning has a strong flavor and is pretty spicy. How spicy it can be depends on the brand, but you can expect this seasoning to add some heat to the food. The exact ingredients of the seasoning can change with the brand. Generally though, you can expect this seasoning to have a garlicky, smoky flavor with some heat.
Conventional ingredients for cajun seasoning include (but aren’t limited to) peppers, cayenne, paprika, black pepper, onion, thyme, oregano, and garlic.
7. Dairy Concentrate
Here’s an odd choice, but something worth a bit of experimenting. Dairy concentrates can help release flavor from foods, while also adding the benefit of masking unpleasant flavors. There’s a lack of salty and spicy flavors, but dairy concentrates can work as viable replacements for MSG. It can take some experimenting, but several people swear by this method.
8. Kosher Salt And Other Salts
Kosher salt has a coarse texture and goes well with most recipes. Many cooks say that this salt enhances the flavor of the foods, rather than simply adding saltiness. If you need a quick replacement, it’s worth a try.
As already noted, several salts can work as acceptable replacements for accent seasoning. Apart from those already listed, you can also try Himalayan (pink) salt, Indian black salt, rock salt, and similar.
9. Choice Of Spice And Herbs
A lot of substitutes focus on the saltiness of accent seasoning – and for good reason! Between table salt and MSG, this seasoning has a fairly high salt content. But that doesn’t mean we can (or should) ignore its spice and herb ingredients.
A carefully chosen blend of spices and herbs can fulfill this role. Considering the spices it includes, there are several options. These include Herbes De Provence, cumin and turmeric combo, and a mixture of tarragon, rosemary, garlic, and pepper.
If you want some saltiness too, simply add table salt to any of these mixes!
10. Other Seasoning Powders
Though it’s popular, Accent seasoning isn’t the only product around. Plenty more companies offer seasoning mixes or powders, plus there are some conventional options as well. Italian seasoning can be a good choice.
Or, you can look for other seasoning products like those from your local restaurant, Domino’s oregano seasoning, McCormick’s seasoning mixes, and more.
11. Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acid
MSG, as we know, is the sodium salt of an amino acid (glutamic acid). There can be more amino acid salts that offer the same umami feel and wonderful flavor. Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acid is one such option that’s splendid in taste.
It adds a deep and complex flavor to the recipe and brings the best parts of MSG to the table. It contains several amino acids and is largely produced by working on soybeans and water.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a liquid with a sauce-like consistency. It will affect the flavor, texture, and appearance of the food, as compared to the powder-like accent seasoning.
12. Beef Stock
Beef stock adds an umami flavor to the recipe, which mimics the presence of MSG in some adobo seasoning brands. With its own flavorful taste, the beef stock provides a viable, though not an exact, replacement for adobo seasoning. You’ll have to add some additional salt since beef stock isn’t salty enough on its own.
Know More About Accent Seasoning To Understand Its Substitution
What Are The Best Accent Seasoning Ingredients
When we intend to replace accent seasoning, it is useful to know the ingredients that went into its manufacture. This allows a better understanding of what substitutes to use and how they work.
Here are the top ingredients in Accent Seasoning.
- Salt
- MSG
- Cayenne pepper
- Black pepper
- Garlic extracts
- Chili pepper
- Onion extracts
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Paprika extracts
- Tricalcium phosphate
Other, minor ingredients may also be included, though those listed here cover the lion’s share of the ingredients and accent seasoning flavor.
What Is Accent Seasoning?
Accent seasoning is a mix of various spices, herbs, and cooking materials. It adds a salty and umami to the food, while also bringing out and highlighting the flavors of a recipe. This mix of herbs and spices comes from a brand called “Accent” (thus its name).
The success of this seasoning has made the brand (and the seasoning itself) a common household name. Although, other seasoning options and brands are also available.
Is Accent Seasoning The Same As MSG?
No, accent seasoning and MSG are very different items. While accent seasoning does rely on MSG for its flavor, it also includes a variety of other spices and herbs to elevate the taste of the recipe.
It should be noted that MSG is best described as a taste modifier. It can (and often does) make food taste better. It doesn’t necessarily bring out or accentuate the existing flavors. Similarities like these can make people consider a similarity between the two. However, the fact remains that MSG is only a part of accent seasoning.
Can Accent Seasoning Tenderize Meat?
Accent seasoning is very popular for marinades or even for grilling food. That’s because it is an excellent meat tenderizer and even enhances the overall flavor and taste. The spice and salt blend of accent seasoning includes enzymes that work with the meat to break it down and makes the meat more tender.
Finding The Right Seasoning Alternatives
Getting the right accent seasoning substitute can be as simple as adding table salt (or several other salts). You can also use several other seasonings and similar products to get the same effect. It’s worth noting that while accent seasoning is common and easily available,
It does have some very easy to use alternatives and options. You might also choose to take the gourmet route and choose more expensive options like the Korean Bamboo Salt. Or, try cost-effective and flavorful options like cajun seasoning and bouillon powder.