Easy Recipe Substitutions Guide
How to Make Substitutions in Any Recipe
You can use this easy recipe substitutions guide when you don't quite have the right ingredients for a recipe. Learn how to make substitutions without ruining your recipe.
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Making substitutions in your recipes might seem like somewhat of an art, or even a science, but it's not really as hard as you might think. Here are some common ingredients and suggested substitutions you can use.
Recipe Substitutions to Start With
| Ingredient | Suggested Substitution |
|---|---|
| Allspice, 1 tsp | Mix 1/2 tsp cinnamon with 1/4 tsp ginger & 1/4 tsp cloves |
| Baking powder, 1 tsp | 1 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar |
| Beer | Like amount of water or broth |
| Bread crumbs | Like amount of cracker crumbs, ground rice crispies, matzo meal or ground oats |
| Brown sugar, 1 cup | 1 cup white sugar + 1/4 cup molasses (reduce liquid in recipe same) |
| Butter | Like amount margarine, vegetable/olive oil or shortening |
| Chervil | Parsley |
| Cream of tartar | 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar |
| Egg | 2.5 T. of powdered egg substitute mixed w/same amt of water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu, pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water |
| Garlic, 1 clove | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder |
| Green onion | White onion, leeks, or shallots |
| Half & half cream | 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter |
| Heavy cream | 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter |
| Herbs, 1 T. fresh | Herbs, 1 tsp dried |
| Hot pepper sauce, 1 tsp | 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar |
| Italian seasoning | 1/2 tsp. dried basil + 1/4 tsp. dried oregano + 1/4 tsp. dried thyme |
| Lemon juice, 1 tsp | 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice |
| Lemon zest or Lime zest | 2 tablespoons lemon juice or lime juice |
| Mace, 1 tsp | 1 tsp nutmeg |
| Mayonnaise, 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt |
| Poultry seasoning | 1/2 tsp. ground sage + 1/4 tsp. ground thyme + 1/4 tsp. ground rosemary |
| Pumpkin pie spice | 1/2 tsp. cinnamon + 1/4 tsp. ginger + 1/8 tsp. nutmeg + 1/8 tsp. cloves |
| Ricotta cheese | Cottage cheese, fine curd |
| Saffron, 1/4 tsp | 1/4 teaspoon turmeric |
| Shallots | Chopped onion, leek or green onion |
| Sour cream | 1 cup plain yogurt or 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and enough evaporated milk to equal 1 cup |
| Soy sauce, 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water |
| Vinegar, 1 tsp | 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine |
| Wine, red | 1 cup beef broth OR 1 cup grape or cranberry juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar |
| Wine, white | 1 cup chicken broth OR 1 cup white grape or apple juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice |
| Yogurt, 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk |
Over time, you may come up with your own cooking substitutions/recipe substitutions, which is great. If you'd like, you can share them with me, and I'll add them to the list on this page.
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