As I ventured into the store for my monthly grocery haul, a peculiar experience unfolded. Ordinarily, I shop once a month (or every other month during gardening season), as we primarily produce our own meat and vegetables. My usual list is short, comprising mainly dry goods and dairy products. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic dominating the world at present, many local grocery stores have introduced restrictions on purchases.
Upon approaching the cash register with my standard two bags of flour, I was informed that I could only acquire one. Initially taken aback, I remained unphased due to the trusty arsenal of smart ingredient substitutions at my disposal. Flour, a staple in my homemade sourdough bread and various baked goods, is just one example where clever substitutes can be employed.
But flour isn’t the sole culprit; there are numerous other ingredients that can be swapped out with readily available alternatives when circumstances dictate.
Top Ingredient Substitutions
Don’t worry if your pantry is bare or you’re looking to get creative in the kitchen – there are plenty of clever substitutes to help you make do with what you have at home. From ingenious alternatives to common ingredients to unexpected solutions for cooking conundrums, I’ll be sharing a wealth of ideas below to keep your culinary creativity flowing.
Oil
When seeking an oil substitute, consider these options: Butter, Lard, or Shortening for general cooking purposes. However, if baking is your goal, Applesauce might be the unexpected game-changer. Its unique consistency helps retain moisture in baked goods, making it a healthier alternative due to its lower fat content compared to traditional oils. Furthermore, Applesauce’s pectin acts as an emulsifier, allowing it to bind with other ingredients similarly to oil-based emulsifiers.
Vinegar
When seeking a substitute for vinegar, consider leveraging the versatility of lemon juice. Not only is it a more fragrant alternative, but it can also serve as a cleaning agent. To replace half a teaspoon of vinegar, use one teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you’re fortunate enough to have a lemon tree on your property, you’ll never need to worry about storing the juice in the fridge. Simply step outside and pluck what you need.
For those looking to get creative, making apple cider vinegar is a simple process that requires just a few apples from your yard. We’ve outlined the steps in our step-by-step guide: [How to make Apple Cider Vinegar].
Buttermilk
While buttermilk is a staple ingredient in many recipes, it’s surprising how few people keep it on hand. Fortunately, making your own buttermilk is a simple process that requires just two ingredients: milk and an acidic agent like lemon juice or white vinegar. The key to successful substitutions is allowing the mixture to sit for five to ten minutes, giving the acid time to curdle the milk and create a creamy, tangy consistency.
Sour Cream
If you don’t have sour cream on hand, there’s no need to worry. A simple substitute is plain yogurt, with one cup serving as the equivalent. In particular, Greek yogurt is an excellent choice due to its comparable consistency and tanginess. This means that in recipes where sour cream is called for, you can replace it with an equal amount of Greek yogurt without compromising the dish’s overall flavor or texture.
What’s more, Greek yogurt can also be used as a substitute for mayonnaise.
To do this, simply swap out the mayo at a 1:1 ratio and proceed with your recipe as usual.
Chicken or Beef Broth
While homemade bone broth is undoubtedly a culinary delight and nutritional powerhouse, it’s not always feasible to have some on hand. Fortunately, there are several effective substitutes that can be used in its place. One option is to use a bouillon cube of your preferred flavor type, simply dissolving it in water to create a similar flavor profile.
Alternatively, you can also opt for vegetable broth, coconut milk, white or red wine (depending on the type of meat), or even plain water as a base.
Ricotta Cheese
As I reflect on my childhood, memories of my mother’s lasagna-making skills are always a highlight. Her signature dish was made with cottage cheese, which led me to believe that this was the standard method for constructing a lasagna until I ventured out into the world and discovered that most people actually rely on ricotta.
While it may have been unconventional at the time, my mother’s use of cottage cheese proved to be a clever move, as it offered a sweeter and more uniform texture compared to ricotta. In reality, both ingredients serve the same purpose in a recipe, making my mother’s approach no less effective.
Baking Powder
One staple in many baker’s pantries is baking powder, but it’s also an ingredient that’s easy to overlook and soon run out of. Fortunately, there’s a simple substitute that can help you get around this issue: for every quarter teaspoon of baking soda needed, you can use ⅝ teaspoon of cream of tartar instead. This clever substitution allows you to achieve the same leavening effect without having to worry about running out of baking powder.
Butter
When it comes to substituting ingredients, you have some flexibility when using oil instead of butter. The resulting consistency will be thinner, but it can still work well depending on the recipe. If you’d rather use a more traditional fat substitute, lard is a good option, offering a similar texture to butter. Alternatively, you could opt for shortening, using ⅞ cup per one cup of butter. However, why stop at mere substitution?
Take your baking and cooking skills to the next level by making your own butter! We’ve outlined four different methods in our post Ways to Make Homemade Butter, providing a range of options to suit your needs.
Eggs
If you find yourself in a pinch without eggs for baking, there’s a clever workaround. Simply mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water and let it sit for about five minutes. This will effectively replicate the volume of one egg. While this substitute won’t quite capture the lightness or distinct flavor of an actual egg, it can serve as a decent emulsifier in a jam.
Just keep in mind that it’s not a suitable replacement if you’re looking to incorporate egg whites into your recipe. On a lighter note, resist the urge to rush out and buy chickens just to get your own eggs! While the idea might seem appealing, our local chicken expert has shared some practical reasons why panic-buying fowl isn’t the most rational approach.
Vanilla Extract
If you find yourself without vanilla extract on hand, don’t let it ruin your culinary plans. A suitable substitute can be found in a teaspoon of rum or bourbon. While the characteristic vanilla flavors won’t be present, these spirits will infuse your dishes with rich, deeper notes that might not have been achievable otherwise.
Brown Sugar
While it may come as a surprise, brown sugar is essentially white sugar blended with molasses. This means that if you’re running low on brown sugar or find yourself without any, you can easily create your own by combining one cup of granulated sugar with two tablespoons of molasses. Simply process the mixture in a food processor until it’s well combined and you’ll be ready to start baking!
Yeast
When it comes to substituting yeast in baking, a reliable combination is half a teaspoon of lemon juice paired with half a teaspoon of baking soda. This unique blend yields one teaspoon of active dry yeast, thanks to the acidifying properties of the lemon juice that activate the baking soda. If you’re without lemons, don’t worry – other acidic ingredients like vinegar can also take its place in this substitution.
Flour
When faced with an unexpected flour shortage, there are several ingredients that can serve as suitable substitutes. A combination of all-purpose flour and cake flour, in a 1:1 ratio, can yield pastry flour, providing the necessary protein balance for baking tasks. Alternatively, all-purpose flour is often a reliable choice for most baking needs. For those seeking gluten-free options, rolled oats are an excellent substitute.
Simply blend one cup of raw rolled oats to create a gluten-free flour alternative. While any type of oats can be used, rolled oats tend to produce the best results. Other viable substitutes include soy flour, wheat germ, cornmeal, rice flour, and oat flour. Additionally, some vegans may find it beneficial to know that cauliflower can be used as a healthy substitute for flour in certain recipes.
This versatile vegetable can be swapped cup-for-cup with traditional flours, making it an ideal ingredient for pizza dough, brownies, flatbread, and more – all without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Bread Crumbs
When it comes to adding some excitement to your weeknight dinners, fried chicken is always a winner. However, when you’re relying on breadcrumbs for that crispy coating, things can get complicated. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to traditional breadcrumbs. One option is to use crackers – simply crush up ¾ cup of crackers to create one cup of homemade breadcrumb substitute.
Alternatively, you can toast some bread, crumble it, and use the same ratio to achieve a similar effect. For those looking for even more creative ways to make breadcrumbs or reduce food waste by using up stale loaves, we’ve got you covered with our guide on how to make croutons – check out the link for more inspiration!
Tomato Sauce
Making your own homemade tomato sauce is a game-changer for those who value control over their ingredients and storage space. It’s surprisingly easy to whip up a batch using just half a cup of tomato paste and half a cup of water. This approach not only frees up valuable pantry real estate but also allows you to tailor the flavor to your liking by adding your own seasonings, such as sugar, salt, or garlic. By skipping store-bought options, you can avoid artificial preservatives altogether.
Why You Should Know of Ingredient Substitutions
While pandemics may occasionally interrupt our culinary routines, there are plenty of everyday benefits to having a repertoire of food substitutions in the kitchen. For instance, being mindful of interchangeable ingredients can save time and money by reducing trips to the grocery store. Recipes often assume that you’ll have certain staples on hand, but this isn’t always the case.
I’ve found myself stuck without olive oil, for example, only to discover that lard can be a suitable substitute in most recipes. This flexibility has saved me from last-minute dashes to the store and allowed me to cook with confidence, even when my pantry isn’t fully stocked. Moreover, substituting ingredients can also have health benefits. Swapping oil for applesauce, for instance, can add valuable nutrients to an otherwise unhealthy dish, while cauliflower flour makes a nutritious pizza base.
By mastering the art of ingredient substitution, you’ll find that your cooking experience becomes more streamlined and stress-free. When life on the farm or homestead gets busy, having this skill up your sleeve can be a game-changer.
