It happens to everyone. You have been working through a recipe, and then you realize that you are missing an extremely vital ingredient. That moment can either make or break a recipe. If you know some common substitutions for a certain food, then you can avoid last-minute shopping to the store. Increase your knowledge of substituting a missing ingredient with another ingredient as you may never know when it might come handy and save you loads of time. These ingredients are usually present in your kitchen along with other ingredients.
Here is a list of all the ingredients that you must be aware of and saving your precious time and money:
1 Quinoa for Oatmeal
Quinoa is versatile and is loaded with protein. You can cook Quinoa with milk and brown sugar and give your usual breakfast of oatmeal a skip.
2 Avocado for Mayonnaise
Avocado can be used in place of Mayonnaise as it’s creaminess makes for a perfect mash. It can be used in salads, dips, or on sandwiches.
3 Tofu for Cottage Cheese
Silken Tofu can be considered as a healthy and delicious alternative for Cottage Cheese, also known as Paneer. It has a similar consistency to cottage cheese and has a mild flavor.
4 Applesauce for Oil
Applesauce is a common substitute for oil and other fats. Its consistency keeps any baked item moist just how the oil would, but the fat content would be less.
5 Tomato Paste and Water for Tomato Sauce
If you are short in tomato sauce, then fret not, combine equal parts of tomato paste and water. You can also add canned tomatoes which will give your dish an extra flavor.
6 Lemon Juice for Vinegar
If you are out of Vinegar, then lemon juice is there for your rescue. It acts as a great substitute, and the acidity of the lemon is similar to that of the vinegar.
7 Yogurt for Mayonnaise
Yogurt can act as a substitute for baking purposes when you have run out of mayonnaise or sour cream. It provides the same consistency.
8 Dairy Free Milk for Regular Milk
If you are bored of regular milk and want to try new flavors which are healthy, then worry not. Opt for coconut, soy, or almond milk. Each of these milk offers a different texture and delicious flavors as they all taste different.
9 Flour for Corn-Starch
Corn-starch is used to add thickness to the gravy. If you are making any soup or gravy and realize in between that you have run out of corn-starch, then don’t panic and use flour instead. Two tablespoons of flour replace one tablespoon of corn-starch. Cook the dish for a longer time to attain the desired thick consistency.
10 Granulated Sugar for Honey
Every ingredient is unique because of its flavor. Honey too has its flavor which can’t be achieved, but one can attain the amount of sweetness it offers. One cup of honey can be replaced with two cups of granulated sugar dissolved in a 1/4th cup of water.
11 Oregano for Thyme
Spices and herbs act as an ingredient which adds flavor to the food, especially pizza and pasta. Thyme is the most important ingredient in this which adds aroma as well as flavor to the dish. In case you have run out of it, add oregano which provides the equal flavor.
12 Sourcream for Yogurt
If you wish to make a Yogurt Parfait but are out of yogurt, then replace it with one cup of sour cream. If you don’t have sour cream as well, add buttermilk or cottage cheese smoothly blended.
13 Milk and Lemon Juice for Buttermilk
When milk and lemon juice are mixed, they make a perfect substitute for buttermilk. The acidity in lemon juice helps to sour the milk and provides a tangy flavor. If you are out of lemons, add white vinegar. You can also try thinning plain yogurt or sour cream with milk or water.
14 Cinnamon and Clove Powder for Allspice Powder
Allspice powder enhances the taste of dark chocolate desserts. If you don’t have it in your kitchen, then cinnamon and ground cloves will act as a great substitute. For one teaspoon of Allspice, add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves.
15 Crushed Crackers for Bread Crumbs
If you are out of breadcrumbs, then crackers are here for your rescue. Open up a box of crackers and run them through the food processor. Coat them on chicken or any dish you like. Even oats act as a great substitute for breadcrumbs.
16 Dark Corn Syrup for Molasses
Molasses are an expensive ingredient, but they can be mimicked with few ingredients. When you are trying to replace one cup of molasses, add one cup of dark corn syrup or maple syrup or 3/4 cup of brown sugar. If the recipe strictly requires the flavor of molasses, then add brown sugar as it is the closest substitute.
17 Cake and All-Purpose Flour for Pastry Flour
Need pastry flour in a minute? Combining cake flour and all-purpose flour provide all the proteins that make up a pastry flour. You can add one tablespoon of corn-starch with all-purpose flour if the cake flour isn’t an option.
18 White Vinegar and Lime Juice for Cream of Tartar
Cream of Tartar is used to activate the alkaline Baking Soda in the baked products. Adding equal amounts of white vinegar and lime juice to the mixture of beaten egg whites will act as cream of tartar.
19 Yogurt for Sour Cream
Plain Yogurt acts a perfect replacement for Sour Cream as the consistency and flavor are similar. Though sour cream is tangier as compared to the yogurt, it works well. Try adding plain yogurt instead of sour cream on your tacos for a healthier twist.
20 Bananas for Eggs
Eggs are used in baking pastries, cakes, and cupcakes to make the batter rise. Bananas are a better replacement for eggs. Use three tablespoons of mashed bananas for one egg, and you are good to go.
