7 of Best Savory Spice Substitutes That You Can Use
When you hear the word “savory”, what do you think of? Most of us think of the savory flavor that often is associated with spicy or salty tastes. Savory originates from an herb that adds flavor to foods. Savory spice is actually an important ingredient in many dishes. Due to this, it can make it easy to run out of savory spice, but there are some substitutes you can use.
Savory spice is used to add flavor to many different dishes. When you run out, there are many different substitutes that you can use when you have no savory spice. Many of these substitutes, like thyme, basil, and rosemary, are most likely already in your spice cabinet.
Continue reading to learn more about savory spice and its uses. Also, continue reading to learn about seven substitutes that you can use when you run out of savory spice.
Savory spice is an herb that is part of the mint family and originates from the Mediterranean region. It can produce a salty or peppery taste when added to dishes.
There are two main variations of savory spice. These variations are known as summer savory and winter savory. Summer tends to be more popularly used when compared to winter savory because summer savory has a taste that is less bitter.
Savory spice is actually a good source of iron, magnesium, and vitamin B6. Incorporating savory spice into your dishes can incorporate these vitamins and minerals into your food.
Uses
Savory spice has many uses. Throughout time, these herbs have been used for cooking, medicine, and seasoning. Since the herbs are small in size and very easy to grow, the spice has been incorporated into many dishes. Some of these dishes include:
With so many uses, savory spice can run out quickly. It can also be difficult to find the particular spice when searching the grocery store. For these reasons, it is important to know various substitutes that you can use to replace the savory spice in whatever recipe you are preparing.
These substitutes can be located in the spice section of the grocery store. It is important to note that these are all substitutes for summer savory spice, since it is used more compared to how much winter savory spice is used.
Thyme
Thyme is a fragrant herb that is known for its grassy and woody flavor. It is often the case that most dishes that require savory spice will also include thyme. For this reason, thyme can make a great substitute for summer savory spice.
Thyme has a flavor that is similar to summer savory spice. It can be used both dry and fresh as a substitute. Since it is already used often to incorporate spice to your dishes, adding extra thyme may not make the dish seem different from using summer savory spice. For the substitution of thyme for summer savory spice, you want to use an equal ratio. Use an amount of thyme that is equal to the amount of summer savory spice that is required.
Sage
Sage is a spice that has a woodsy flavor that pairs well with meats and stews. When substituting sage for summer savory spice, it is best that you use fresh sage rather than dry sage for the flavor. The flavor of dry sage can be too strong and compromise the taste of the dish.
Sage can make a great substitute for summer savory spice. When substituting sage for summer savory spice, you want to use an equal 1:1 ratio. You will substitute one teaspoon of sage for one teaspoon of summer savory spice required by the recipe for the dish you are creating.
Basil
Basil is an herb that has a sweet aroma and originates from the Mediterranean region. With a slight peppery flavor, basil can work as a great substitute for summer savory spice. It is best to incorporate basil into the dish once it has been cooked or at the end of the cooking process, since basil cannot withstand long hours of cooking.
When substituting basil for summer savory spice, you can use either dried basil or fresh basil. You will use an equal amount of basil in the dish as you would summer savory spice. If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of summer savory spice, you can use one teaspoon of basil.
Rosemary
Rosemary and summer savory spice have similar flavor profiles. For this reason, rosemary can make a great substitute for summer savory spice.
Rosemary is often used as a seasoning for meat, beans, and stew. It has a flavor that is peppery as well as like pine and citrus. Both fresh rosemary as well as dried rosemary need to be chopped before they are used due to their tough texture.
You can use either dried rosemary or fresh rosemary as a substitute for summer savory spice. You will use equal measurements for the substitution, so you will use one teaspoon of rosemary to substitute for one teaspoon of summer savory spice.
Marjoram
Marjoram is an herb that has a sweet and earthy flavor. It has a similar minty flavor to summer savory spice. This herb is delicate and cannot withstand long cooking hours.
Marjoram works great in soups, vegetables, and salad dressings. It is best to use marjoram in moderation due to its strong nature, but you will use an equal amount of marjoram for the amount of summer savory spice that the recipe requires.
Oregano
Oregano has a minty flavor that is quite bitter. It can make a great substitute for summer savory spice. It is a common ingredient in sauces, stews, seafood, and pasta. The small leaves of oregano have a strong aroma. You will need to use equal measurements of oregano for the measurements of summer savory spice that the recipe requires.
Winter Savory
When you run out of summer savory spice, you may consider using winter savory spice as a substitute. Luckily, winter savory spice can be used to replace summer savory spice when you run out.
Winter savory spice has a more bitter flavor compared to summer savory spice. You can expect the dish you are cooking to have more of a bitter flavor if you choose to use winter savory spice as your substitute.
Conclusion
Savory spice is used in many dishes. It comes in two variations, summer savory spice and winter savory spice. The summer savory spice is most commonly used, and there are many substitutes for this spice.
