Yester

Almond flour is one of the widely used flours in baking. There are special recipes that call only for this flour and using another one instead may lead to failure. Thus, it’s not easy to find almond flour substitutes for a few recipes but in the majority of cases, there are a number of other … Read more

Gochugaru, also known as Korean chili powder, is a type of crushed chili pepper popular in Korean cuisine. Gochugaru is made of de-seeded, sun-dried peppers that are crushed into a powder.  Its spice level varies from mild to hot and the flavor is smoky, spicy, and sweet at the same time. It also carries slight … Read more

Plum tomato, also known as paste tomato, is one of the basic ingredients in Italian tomato paste, red sauces, and many dishes. It has an oblong shape and is dense in texture, comes with fewer seeds, and is low in water content which makes it perfect for canning, making thick tomato pastes, sauces as well … Read more

Fresno chile, sometimes mistaken for jalapeno chile, is a medium-sized hot pepper in bright red or green colors. It is used to spice up dishes, marinades, and sauces. It is often used in Mexican dishes, tacos, salsas, burgers, hot dogs, and sausages and serves as a topping for many other meals calling for a hint … Read more

White vinegar is produced by combining acetic acid with water or from the natural fermentation of sugar cane extract. It differs from regular vinegar and is usually used for cleaning, cooking, and healthcare purposes.  It also serves as a leavening agent in baked goods, tenderizing agent for meats, vegetables, and seafood. You can also add … Read more

Cannellini beans, also known as white kidney beans, are one of the most delicate types of beans. They come from Italy and are known for their creamy white color, fluffy texture, and nutty flavor.  They are used in many Italian recipes and since they maintain their shape when cooked they are ideal for salads, soups, … Read more

Many of us can’t imagine some recipes without sugar but many other people avoid using sugar for a number of reasons. This article is special for those looking for granulated sugar substitutes for any reason and any case.  Granulated sugar is regular table sugar also known as refined or white sugar made of beet or … Read more

Rice malt syrup is a natural sweetener used as a spread on pancakes and smoothies as well as a common sweetener for desserts. It’s made of organic brown rice and is considered a better sweetener than sugar and some other sweeteners.  While sugar is available everywhere, you may hardly find rice malt syrup in common … Read more

What is enchilada sauce? Enchilada is a well-known Mexican sauce made of tomatoes, chilies, beef broth, garlic, onion, and dried spices including cumin and oregano. They are all simmered until thickened.  This super deciduous and spicy sauce pairs well with meats, veggies, soups, casseroles, and of course Mexican dishes such as tacos, nachos, tortillas, enchiladas, … Read more

Cottage cheese is a fresh cheese made by heating whole milk which then produces soft and bouncy curds. It’s very mild in flavor and has slight saltiness. You can use it on its own or add it to hot dishes including pasta, pancakes, and dips.  Cottage cheese is low in fat, that’s why it has … Read more

Provolone is a cow’s milk cheese originating from southern Italy. It’s a semi-hard cheese that’s aged from 4 months to up to 2 years. It is used in many Italian dishes, pasta, salads, and even desserts.  Provolone has a complex, sharp, nutty, and buttery flavor. The older the cheese, the more pronounced the flavor. Some … Read more

Spinach is a nutritious leafy green that’s quite easy to find in any season either fresh or frozen. However, not everyone likes the taste or texture of cooked spinach and here we are to discuss several spinach substitutes that you can use plain or cooked.  Raw spinach has a mild and slightly sweet taste. It … Read more

Depending on what you make or bake you may need amaretto in your recipes as it’s a super flavorful Italian liquor made of apricot or almond kernels or both.  It tastes rich and sweet with an almond flavor and has a slight bitterness. This beverage has gained great fame all over the world and it’s … Read more

Watercress is a leafy vegetable coming from the cabbage family. You can eat it both raw and cooked. Raw watercress has a fresh, pungent, peppery flavor while cooked watercress tends to lose its flavor and become neutral.  It’s somehow similar to spinach but carries the taste of related veggies like mustard, cabbage, and wasabi.  Watercress … Read more

Saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world. It is produced by a flower called crocus sativus.  It is high in antioxidants and comes with many health benefits. You may hardly find it in common grocery stores but there are similar spices and substitutes for saffron to use in many dishes.  Saffron has … Read more

A beef shank is the cut of meat from the animal’s leg above the knee. It usually contains bone that has succulent marrow inside and is considered a delicacy. The meat is tough but very flavorful.  These factors make it one of the most delicious and unique parts of beef that’s not easy to replace … Read more

Chili powder is made of ground-dried chilies. The store-bought one is sometimes a mixture of several varieties of chilies including anchos, cayenne, chipotle, jalapeno, etc., and spices such as cumin, garlic, oregano, and so on.  Because of this, the taste and level of hotness vary from blend to blend.  Chili powder is popular in Latin … Read more

Asparagus is one of the delicacies all over the world. It’s a seasonal green vegetable with long stems which can be steamed, grilled, sauteed, or roasted.  They taste delicious just the way they are and are often served as side dishes along with other veggies, meat, fish, and sauces.  There are not so many alternatives … Read more

One of the most delicious cuts of beef is skirt steak. It’s a long, flat cut of cow’s meat mostly loved for its flavor rather than tenderness.  Although skirt steak is suitable for any type of dish it is usually served grilled or roasted. It’s considered as an easy and quick dinner idea that you … Read more

Ponzu is a one of the most popular Japanese sauces mainly served with seafood and used for marinating. It is made of ponzu which is a mix of citrus juice of yuzu, sudachi, vinegar and kabosu, as well as a blend of soy sauce, mirin or sugar, and dashi. This sauce has a citrusy, tangy … Read more

Butternut squash is a healthy winter vegetable harvested in fall. It has so many tasty recipes that some of them are included in our holiday-dish lists.  Although butternut squash is a type of veggie that keeps well for several months, you may still face a problem getting it especially during the holidays.  Fall holidays and … Read more

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made of polished and fermented rice. It has its special place in Japanese cuisine and is often used in cooked dishes, marinades, soups, stir-fries, steaming and baking.  The main purpose of using it in cooking is to get rid of odors, add an umami taste and flavor to … Read more

Maybe it’s the first time you hear about Chinese black vinegar, maybe you use it every day. So, what is Chinese black vinegar? Let’s get the answer to this question as well as discuss some possible chinese black vinegar substitutes in this post.  What is Chinese black vinegar? Chinese black vinegar, known as Chinkiang or … Read more

Kewpie mayonnaise is an egg yolk type mayonnaise made of egg yolks instead of whole eggs. It has a rich and very distinctive flavor thanks to its technique of preparation.  It also has a golden yellow color since its main ingredient is egg yolk. The texture is custardy and kind of fatty. In a word, … Read more

Golden syrup is a thick, smooth, honey-like syrup made of cane sugar. It has a buttery and light caramel flavor and is used as a natural sweetener for baked goods, drinks and desserts.  You can buy canned golden syrup from grocery stores but if you are looking for golden syrup substitutes then stay with us.  … Read more

Spring onions, similar to green onions, are a member of the onion and garlic family and therefore taste oniony, fresh and slightly sweet. Both the bulb and the leaves are edible but the leaves come with a stronger flavor.  Spring onion is used in salads, soups, dumplings, dips, marinades, sauces, stir-fries and stuffing. This is … Read more

Orzo is a thin, rice-shaped pasta made of semolina flour which belongs to durum wheat and is not gluten-free. Compared to regular pasta, orzo has the ability to maintain its shape in long-cooked dishes including soups and casseroles.  Orzo has its special place in Italian cuisine. It’s used in cooked dishes, salads and soups. If … Read more

The traditional recipe of pumpkin pie calls for evaporated milk as one of the essential ingredients. However, many people look for vegan friendly recipes for this pie.  If you are among them then check some of the best substitutes for evaporated milk in pumpkin pie. We also share non-vegan options, in case you have run … Read more

You can either buy or make vegetable broth and in any case it’s the water boiled with vegetables like onion, celery, carrot, garlic, tomato paste, potato and any other vegetable you want to add into it.  It is used for soups, sauces, pilafs, dumplings, casseroles, stuffing and many more. Vegetable broth is a nutritious and … Read more

Sweet chili sauce is one of the most popular condiments in Thai cuisine. Its main ingredient is red chili but additional ingredients such as rice wine vinegar, garlic, fish sauce, and a sweetener like fruit, refined sugar or honey make it taste sweet, sour and spicy at the same time.  Sweet chili sauce is basically … Read more