Herb and Spice Substitution Chart

Ever find yourself in the middle of a recipe and find yourself out of an herb or spice in your kitchen? Fear not, for here is a handy list of close substitutions of herbs and spices that should get you through cooking successfully. Keep in mind that these alternates don’t taste exactly like the ingredients they’re replacing; but with a bit of experimentation on the amounts you put in, you can still produce a great-tasting dish.

Herb and Spice Substitutions

Allspice – Cinnamon, cassia, dash of nutmeg or mace, or dash of cloves
Aniseed – Fennel seed or a few drops anise extract
Basil – Oregano or thyme
Cardamom – Ginger
Chervil – Tarragon or parsley
Chili Powder – Dash bottled hot pepper sauce plus a combination of oregano and cumin
Chive – Green onion, onion, or leek
Cilantro – Parsley
Cinnamon – Nutmeg or allspice (use only 1/4 of the amount)
Cloves – Allspice, cinnamon, or nutmeg
Cumin – Chili powder
Ginger – Allspice, cinnamon, mace, or nutmeg
Italian Seasoning – Blend of any of these: basil, oregano, rosemary, and ground red pepper
Mace – Allspice, cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg
Marjoram – Basil, thyme, or savory
Mint – Basil, marjoram, or rosemary
Nutmeg – Cinnamon, ginger, or mace
Oregano – Thyme or basil
Parsley – Chervil or cilantro
Poultry Seasoning – Sage plus a blend of any of these: thyme, marjoram, savory, black pepper, and rosemary
Red Pepper – Dash bottled hot pepper sauce or black pepper
Rosemary – Thyme, tarragon, or savory
Saffron – Dash turmeric (for color)
Sage – Poultry seasoning, savory, marjoram, or rosemary
Savory – Thyme, marjoram, or sage
Tarragon – Chervil, dash fennel seed, or dash aniseed
Thyme – Basil, marjoram, oregano, or savory

Know of any other herb or spice flavor substitutes or alternatives? Any approximations of garlic, dill, mustard seed, or bay leaves? Let everyone know in the comments.