Substitution Table for Common Ingredients

It's always best to plan ahead and have all of the ingredients for any given recipe. However, in the real world, emergencies do happen. When a quick trip to the store is impossible, or inconvenient, here is a list of substitutions for common cooking ingredients.

If you don't have ....

Substitute

Allspice

1 tsp ( 5 ml)

1/2 tsp (2 ml) cinnamon + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) cloves + pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Anchovies

2 fillets, minced

1 tsp (5 ml) anchovy paste

Baking Powder

1 tsp (5 ml)

1/4 tsp (1 ml) baking soda + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) corn starch + 1/2 tsp (2 mil) cream of tartar

Balsamic Vinegar

1 tbsp (15 ml)

1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar + pinch granulated sugar

Butter, Salted

1 cup (250 ml)

1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt

Buttermilk

1 cup (250 ml)

1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice or vinegar + enough milk to equal one cup (250 ml)

let stand 5 minutes

or....

1/2 cup (125 ml) plain yogurt + 1/2 cap (125 ml) milk

Chocolate, unsweetened

1 oz (30 g)

3 tbsp (45 ml) cocoa + 1 tbsp (15 ml) melted butter or shortening

Condensed Milk

1 - 14 oz tin ( 398 ml)

1 cup (250 ml) evapourated milk + 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) granulated sugar, heated until solution dissolves

Confectioner's Sugar (Icing Sugar)

1 cup

(1/2 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp) (147 ml) granulated sugar + 4/3 tsp (4 ml) cornstarch

Grind in blender or food processor until fine

Cornstarch ( for thickening)

1 tbsp

3 tbsp all purpose flour

Garlic

1 small clove

1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) garlic powder

Egg

1 whole

2 egg whites (for lower fat)

or ...

2 to 3 tbsp (25 - 45- ml) mayonnaise for cakes

Flour, Cake

1 cup (250 ml)

(1 cup less 2 tbsp) (220 ml) all purpose flour

Ginger, Fresh

1 tbsp minced or grated

1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) ground ginger (for baking)

Herbs, Fresh

1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped

1 tsp (5 ml) dried flakes

or ...

1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1 to 2 ml) ground or powdered

of the same herb

Italian Herb Seasoning

2 tsp

1 tsp (5 ml) dried oregano + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried basil + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried thyme

Lemongrass

1 stalk

1 1/2 tsp (7 ml) lemon zest +1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) minced fresh ginger

Poultry Seasoning

1 tsp (5 ml)

3/4 tsp (4 ml) dried sage + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) dried thyme

Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp (5 ml)

1/2 tsp (2 mil) ground cinnamon + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground nutmeg + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground ginger + 1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) ground cloves

Rice Vinegar

White wine vinegar + pinch of granulated sugar

Sour Cream

1 cup (250 ml)

1 cup (250 ml) yogurt

For more information on ingredient substitutions:

Joachim, David , The Food Substitution Bible, Robert Rose Inc., 2005

University of Nebraska Web Site, http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftfeb01.htm

If you don't have ....		Substitute
Allspice	1 tsp ( 5 ml)	1/2 tsp (2 ml) cinnamon + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) cloves + pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Anchovies	2 fillets, minced	1 tsp (5 ml) anchovy paste
Baking Powder	1 tsp (5 ml)	1/4 tsp (1 ml) baking soda + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) corn starch + 1/2 tsp (2 mil) cream of tartar
Balsamic Vinegar	1 tbsp (15 ml)	1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar + pinch granulated sugar
Butter, Salted	1 cup (250 ml)	1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
Buttermilk	1 cup (250 ml)	1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice or vinegar + enough milk to equal one cup (250 ml) let stand 5 minutes or.... 1/2 cup (125 ml) plain yogurt + 1/2 cap (125 ml) milk
Chocolate, unsweetened	1 oz (30 g)	3 tbsp (45 ml) cocoa + 1 tbsp (15 ml) melted butter or shortening
Condensed Milk	1 - 14 oz tin ( 398 ml)	1 cup (250 ml) evapourated milk + 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) granulated sugar, heated until solution dissolves
Confectioner's Sugar (Icing Sugar)	1 cup	(1/2 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp) (147 ml) granulated sugar + 4/3 tsp (4 ml) cornstarch Grind in blender or food processor until fine
Cornstarch ( for thickening)	1 tbsp	3 tbsp all purpose flour
Garlic	1 small clove	1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) garlic powder
Egg	1 whole	2 egg whites (for lower fat) or ... 2 to 3 tbsp (25 - 45- ml) mayonnaise for cakes
Flour, Cake	1 cup (250 ml)	(1 cup less 2 tbsp) (220 ml) all purpose flour
Ginger, Fresh	1 tbsp minced or grated	1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) ground ginger (for baking)
Herbs, Fresh	1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped	1 tsp (5 ml) dried flakes or ... 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1 to 2 ml) ground or powdered of the same herb
Italian Herb Seasoning	2 tsp	1 tsp (5 ml) dried oregano + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried basil + 1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried thyme
Lemongrass	1 stalk	1 1/2 tsp (7 ml) lemon zest +1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) minced fresh ginger
Poultry Seasoning	1 tsp (5 ml)	3/4 tsp (4 ml) dried sage + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) dried thyme
Pumpkin Pie Spice	1 tsp (5 ml)	1/2 tsp (2 mil) ground cinnamon + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground nutmeg + 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground ginger + 1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) ground cloves
Rice Vinegar		White wine vinegar + pinch of granulated sugar
Sour Cream	1 cup (250 ml)	1 cup (250 ml) yogurt