ingredient-substitutes

Blank-label bottles and bowls comparing light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and thick dark soy sauce with noodles, bok choy, scallions, ginger, and garlic

Best Dark Soy Sauce Brands: How to Choose the Right Bottle

September 5, 2025June 12, 2026ting

The best dark soy sauce bottle is usually a Chinese style dark soy sauce for color and body, not a regular all purpose soy sauce.

Salad, grapes, herbs, pan sauce, and small bowls of vinegar and sweeteners for balsamic substitutes

Balsamic Vinegar Substitute: Best Swaps by Recipe

August 19, 2025June 12, 2026ting

The best balsamic vinegar substitute is red wine vinegar mixed with a small amount of sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

Bowls of capers, green olives, pickles, lemon, and herbs arranged as caper substitutes

Substitute for Capers

July 24, 2025June 14, 2026ting

The best substitute for capers is usually chopped green olives. They bring salty, briny flavor without needing a specialty ingredient.

Basil, parsley, arugula, spinach, mint, cilantro, garlic, lemon, cheese, nuts, olive oil, and green pesto for pesto substitutes

Basil Substitute for Pesto

July 19, 2025June 13, 2026tingLeave a Comment

The best basil substitute for pesto is usually a blend: use a mild green such as spinach for body, then add parsley, arugula, mint, cilantro, or kale for flavor.

Fresh dill with fennel fronds, parsley, tarragon, chervil, basil, yogurt sauce, cucumber, and lemon

Dill Substitute

July 12, 2025June 13, 2026ting

The best dill substitute depends on the dish. Tarragon fits seafood and sauces, fennel fronds mimic the look, and parsley with lemon works for mild freshness.

Orange, lemon, and grapefruit halves with citrus zest curls and a zester on a cutting board

Orange Zest Substitute

July 9, 2025June 14, 2026ting

The best orange zest substitute is usually another citrus zest, especially lemon, tangerine, or clementine zest. Orange extract works in baking, but use only a little.

Fennel Substitute

June 10, 2025June 14, 2026ting

The best fennel substitute depends on whether the recipe calls for fennel bulb, fronds, or seeds. Use celery and onion for bulk, dill or tarragon for fronds, and anise or caraway for seeds.

Small bowls of fennel seed, anise seed, caraway seed, dill seed, and cumin as fennel seed substitutes

Substitute for Fennel Seed

June 8, 2025June 14, 2026ting

The closest substitute for fennel seed is anise seed, but caraway, dill seed, cumin, and celery seed can also work depending on whether the recipe is sweet, savory, or pickled.

Nutritional yeast flakes with dried mushrooms, white miso, soy sauce, cashews, grated Parmesan, and garlic powder

Nutritional Yeast Substitute

May 31, 2025June 13, 2026ting

The best nutritional yeast substitute depends on the recipe. Use miso, mushroom powder, soy sauce, cashews, or Parmesan for savory, cheesy, or umami flavor.

Masa Harina Substitute

May 11, 2025June 14, 2026ting

The best masa harina substitute depends on the recipe. Fresh masa is closest; fine corn flour or ground corn tortillas can work in some uses, but tortillas and tamales are harder to replace.