Harsh

Ginger can do wonders for food. This versatile spice can work with a whole variety of food and cuisine. Ginger bread, ginger beer, and several dishes in the Indian, Asian, Caribbean, and European cuisine depend on it. Considering ginger’s impressive range and use, what are the options for ginger substitutes? The spice has a unique … Read more

Don’t let the name throw you off! Allspice isn’t a blend or a mix of spices. This is a berry that’s native to southern Mexico, Central America, Jamaica, and some surrounding regions. It’s a versatile spice used in several recipes. So what can you do if you run out of this ingredient? Thankfully, many allspice … Read more

What could be a good English mustard substitute? The spicy mustard is a popular condiment that offers a variety of uses. From spreads to sausages, this mustard covers a range of culinary deliciousness. There was a time when English mustard wasn’t as readily available outside the UK. Things have changed now and while it may … Read more

What do you do if you find out that you’re all out of maple syrup? Canada keeps a strategic reserve of maple syrup to make sure this doesn’t happen (yes, the country actually keeps an emergency maple syrup reserve). The rest of us have to depend on finding the right substitute for maple syrup.  There … Read more

Potato flakes are a very versatile ingredient. They’re good enough as instant food and can go along just fine with countless recipes. You could get instant mashed potatoes by simply adding water to potato flakes! So, if you use an ingredient as versatile as this, what ingredients could work as acceptable potato flakes substitutes? The … Read more

Using a cooking spray is convenient and quick. However, many people are concerned about its effects on the environment, health, and the fact that it is an expensive approach. Using a cooking spray substitute can resolve several of these problems. If you have some cooking skills, using an alternative option should be no problem at … Read more

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 … Read more

Need an adobo seasoning substitute? The savory spice mix is quite popular in Latin America and Mexico, with some love in Spain and the Philippines as well. Popular and versatile as it is, the seasoning isn’t easily available everywhere. It’s readily available in these countries and regions, though it can get tough to find elsewhere. … Read more

Flavorful and delicious as it is, there are times when you want a pork belly substitute for a recipe. Pork belly is flavorful and versatile meat that’s the heart of countless recipes. It’s a delicacy that you don’t want to miss. Yet, the fact is that this is expensive meat. It might not always be … Read more

There can be times when you want almond butter substitutes for your recipe. The butter is delicious and packed with goodness, making it popular. Yet, there can be times when you’re out of this butter or need to work around nut allergies. These are the times to look at options that can save your dish! … Read more

Italian seasoning is a blend of herbs often used with Italian cuisine. It adds flavor, taste, and an element of that Italian deliciousness we all love. It can pretty much make or break a recipe. So, it is challenging if you can’t use this seasoning in a dish. Thankfully, you can call upon some excellent … Read more

Cilantro is a common ingredient in Mexican, Asian, and Indian cuisine. Those outside the USA know this plant as coriander. In the USA, cilantro represents the leaves and stem of the plant, while the dried seeds are called coriander. In most of the world, the plant and its leaves are known as coriander and the … Read more

Waxed paper is a versatile material. It’s the material of choice for baking enthusiasts and equally useful for packing and storing food. Considering it is versatile and needed so often, there might be times when you run out of it or run short of waxed paper. An easy fix in such a situation is to … Read more

The nutritious, delicious, and gluten-free chickpea flour is a cornerstone for many recipes. Its taste and flavor lend themselves well to most taste buds. Also known as besan, garbanzo flour, or gram flour, it is a popular ingredient in several cuisines.  Though it’s gaining ground in the USA, it’s not that popular yet. There’s a … Read more

Worcestershire sauce is a famous ingredient that finds use in plenty of recipes. The sauce has been around for about 150 years and has an excellent culinary legacy. There are times when you might prefer Worcestershire sauce substitutes. You may be out of this sauce, prefer a vegan option, or maybe you just don’t like … Read more

Bourbon stands its ground as a drink and an important cooking ingredient. It finds use in several recipes, going all the way from ribs to cakes. But in the event you can’t use bourbon for some recipes, don’t panic! Try these bourbon substitutes. For recipes, you can use alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic substitutes to … Read more

Corn flour (or cornflour, if you will) is a handy ingredient that finds use in several recipes. It’s practically an essential ingredient for a cook and goes well with everything from chicken and fish to waffles. But what if you can’t or don’t want to use cornflour? Using corn flour substitutes will make things easier. … Read more

You’ll encounter a diverse variety of canned tomatoes in the grocery stores. All types contain the same thing and yet they have slightly different tastes. Diced tomatoes are the most used form in them. These tomatoes add thickness, flavor, and body to the recipes. But if you run out of diced tomatoes, there are alternatives … Read more

If you love to cook and eat Mexican food, you may know about the “Holy Trinity” of peppers. These chilies are a part of almost every savory Mexican recipe. Guajillo peppers are the spiciest of the trio. They bring hotness along with a fruity and smoky flavor. But what if you realize you’ve run out … Read more

The delicious banana is a versatile fruit. It’s delicious for eating, is an excellent cooking ingredient, makes smoothies better, and is a rather useful unit of measurement! The world may love this fruit (it’s also a berry!), but what if you want your dish to be free of bananas? Well, here are some banana substitutes … Read more

Brown rice syrup is a vegan and gluten-free sweetener extracted from brown rice. It is used across the world due to its texture, coloring, and taste. Although it is rich in nutrients and minerals, this syrup has a considerably high glycemic index. Its consumption often leads to high spikes in blood sugar levels. Hence, many … Read more

If you find yourself looking for rum substitutes, you have two problems. One, you’re probably out of rum, which is bad enough. Two, you’ll need to find something that offers the same complex flavors and taste as rum. As a cooking ingredient, rum is effective and tasteful. It gives an amazing taste and texture to … Read more

Agar Agar is the mainstay for certain Asian recipes and is much in demand as a vegan gelatin replacement. Keeping up with its unique properties can be difficult when you want or need an agar agar substitute. The options listed here should make that job a little easier. Derived from seaweed or similar plants, agar … Read more

Agave Nectar is a popular sweetener in Mexico and is now gaining popularity globally. Popular as this sweetener is, most of us don’t have it in the kitchen cabinet. So, if a recipe calls for it, there’s a good chance you’ll need an agave nectar substitute.  So, what works as a sweet replacement for this … Read more

Chili sauce is an ingredient that becomes the heart and soul of several dishes. For those of us who love this sauce, even an amazing meal can feel lesser in its absence. So, what to do if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t use chili sauce? Well, it’s time to look at … Read more

Vanilla sugar, or Vanille Zucker, is a popular ingredient in European cuisine. This sweetening agent is mostly used in baking and also makes a nice topping. However, this sweetener can be difficult to find in non-European countries. And to make up for it, you can use a vanilla sugar substitute in your recipe. Here are … Read more

Getting a Sriracha substitute to get the same hot and spicy flavor is a tough ask. There are countless hot sauces on the market, so getting the heat isn’t that big a problem. But it is the spicy touch that sets Sriracha apart and that’s why the alternatives need deeper thought. To be fair, Sriracha … Read more

Pomegranate molasses is known for its bittersweet and tangy flavor. You’ll find it frequently employed in Middle Eastern recipes. However, you might not find it in the local market. So if your recipe asks for pomegranate molasses but you don’t have it, try out other options. Here are the best pomegranate molasses substitutes that you … Read more

Red food color is widely used in red velvet cake, rainbow cake, and colorful cookies and frostings. However, the food color that we get from the market is usually made with chemical ingredients. But did you know that you could make red food color from natural sources? These natural substitutes for red food coloring can … Read more

Are you looking for a tomato puree substitute? We’ve got you covered. Tomato puree is a common and popular ingredient used in several dishes across many cuisines. It would be preferable to always have this ingredient in stock, but there are times when you might run out of it. Or, maybe you want to use … Read more