Running out of an ingredient in the middle of cooking is always frustrating. Luckily, there are many ways that you can substitute common recipe ingredients to save your dish and still finish with a great flavor. Here are some ways that you can substitute ingredients in your recipes.
- Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour is a combination of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. If you don’t have any self-rising flour on hand, you can make your own by combining 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a common ingredient in many baking recipes. If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, until it thickens and curdles. Then, use it as you would buttermilk in your recipe.
- Seasonings
If you’re missing a specific seasoning in your recipe, there are often several substitutions you can use. Here are some common seasoning substitutions:
- Cumin: Use chili powder or ground coriander instead.
- Oregano: Use marjoram, thyme, or basil instead.
- Paprika: Use chili powder or cayenne pepper instead.
- Rosemary: Use thyme or oregano instead.
- Sage: Use poultry seasoning or thyme instead.
4. Heavy Cream
If you don’t have heavy cream on hand, you can use a mixture of milk and butter instead. For 1 cup of heavy cream, use 3/4 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Mix them together and use the mixture in your recipe.
- Brown Sugar
If you run out of brown sugar, you can make your own by combining 1 cup of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses. Mix them together until well combined, and use the mixture as you would brown sugar in your recipe.
Running out of an ingredient in the middle of cooking can be frustrating, but there are many substitutions you can use to save your dish. Try using these methods to substitute ingredients the next time you’re missing something. With a little creativity, you can still achieve great flavor in your dishes.
