Food substitutions

When you do not have this ingredient, try that other one.

Forgot any ingredient? Is it spoiled? A smart cook can replace one ingredient for something equivalent when some is needed and it is not available.

Food Substitutions

Soy sauce substitution: If you don't have soy sauce and you are in a rush, you can substitute it with tamari, using 2 tsp tamari to each Tbs soy sauce, as tamari sauce has a stronger flavor. You could also use dark gravy granules, some commercial seasoning or dark stock cube, crushed. Another solution would be dissolving a pinch of salt and 1/2 tsp dark sugar in 1 Tbs water, you could add a bit of molasses for a darker color.

Out of Modena: If you don’t have the balsamic vinegar from Modena listed as an essential ingredient in your recipe, mix 1 Tbs wine vinegar with 1 tsp honey. It will do the trick.

Breadcrumbs: You can often substitute them for cracker crumbs, corn flake crumbs or ground oats.

Replace beer or white wine: in a recipe, beer or wine can be substituted with equal parts chicken broth. If you wish more flavor, substitute wine or beer with a little vinegar with sugar, add water to make the full amunt of liquid.

Unsalted butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can try shortening, vegetable or olive oil.

Half and half: 1 cup half and half cream is easily substituted with 1 tablespoon melted butter and milk to equal 1 cup.

Heavy cream: Substitute 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup evaporated milk or 3/4 cup milk + 1/3 cup butter.

Baking: If your recipe needs more thatn one egg, replace 1 egg with 1/2 banana, mashed + 1/2 tsp baking powder - less cholesterol. When baking, you can often substitute vegetable oil for equal parts applesauce.

Short of baking powder: 1 teaspoon of baking powder can be replaced with ¼ teaspoon of baking powder 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar.

Egg whites: Aquafaba, the liquid left after boiling some beans and pulses, is a good susbtitute for egg whites in baking, particularly chickpea aquafaba. You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of aquafaba to replace one medium-sized egg white. Aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, can be whipped into a foam, just like egg whites. It’s a pretty neat trick for vegan baking or if you’re just out of eggs.

Ketchup replacer: Need 1 cup oof ketchup? Try 1 cup tomato sauce + 1 tablespoon sugar + 1 teaspoon vinegar.

Green is green: Green onions work nearly as well as chives.

Non mayo is leaner: Substitute 1 cup mayonnaise with 1 cup sour cream, or 1 cup plain yogur, or 1 cup cottage cheese.

Choco-coco: 1/4 cup cocoa is equal to approximately 1 ounce square of unsweetened chocolate.

Wet and dry: 1 teaspoon of mustard powder can be replaced with 1 tablespoon of prepared mustard.

Dried fruits matters: No raisins? Same amount of dried cranberries, cherries or currants would work.

Lemon juice is a good replacement for lemon zest. Substitute 1 tsp zest with 1 tsp juice when you do not have fresh lemons.

Cornstarch: Replace 1 Tbs cornstarch with 2 Tbs flour.

Seasoning: 1 tablespoon of fresh finely chopped herbs equals 1 teaspoon dried herbs, so 1 teaspoon dry parsley is a substitution for 1 tablespoon frehs parsley leaves - 1 bay leaf equals 1/4 teaspoon crushed - 1 clove of garlic equals 1/8 of a teaspoon of garlic powder, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt.

Sweet: 1 cup honey can be substituted with 1 cup corn syrup, but honey is probably better for your health. Out of brown sugar? You can substitute 1 cup for 1 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup molasses. Just reduce the other liquids in the recipe by about 1/4 cup.

No buttermilk? Substitute with regular milk and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per cup of milk. Let stand for about 15 minutes.