ItalianoCommon Substitutions
These are some common substitions for ingredients you hadn't realized you had run out of and for which you don't want to go out to the store for just that one item. You just might have the other ingredients on hand to substitute what you are missing.
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitution |
| Allspice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves |
| Arrowroot starch | 1 teaspoon | 1 tablespoon flour, or 1 teaspoon cornstarch |
| Baking powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup) |
| Bay leaf | 1 whole | 1/4 teaspoon crushed |
| Beer | 1 cup | 1 cup chicken broth |
| Brandy | 1/4 cup | 1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract plus enough water to make 1/4 cup |
| Bread crumbs | 1 cup | 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats |
| Broth - beef or chicken | 1 cup | 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup, packed | 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup OR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar |
| Butter - salted | 1 cup | 1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt |
| Butter - unsalted | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard |
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup OR 1 cup milk plus 1 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar |
| Cheddar cheese | 1 cup shredded | 1 cup shredded Colby cheddar OR 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese |
| Chervil | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley |
| Chicken base | 1 tablespoon | 1 cup canned or homemade chicken broth or stock. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1 cup |
| Chives - chopped | 2 tablespoons | 2 teaspoons green onion tops, finely chopped |
| Chocolate - semisweet | 1 ounce | 1 (1 ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening |
| Chocolate - unsweetened | 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil |
| Cocoa | 1/4 cup | 1 (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate |
| Coconut cream | 1 cup | 1 cup whipping cream |
| Coconut milk | 1 cup | 1 cup whole milk |
| Cornmeal - self-rising | 1 cup | 7/8 cup plain cornmeal, 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt |
| Corn syrup | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup |
| Corn syrup - dark | 1 cup | 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup light molasses |
| Corn starch | 1 tablespoon | 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
| Cottage cheese | 1 cup | 1 cup farmers cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese |
| Cracker crumbs | 3/4 cup | 1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats |
| Cream - half and half | 1 cup | 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter |
| Cream - heavy | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk, undiluted OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter or margarine (for baking) |
| Cream - light | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter (for baking) |
| Cream - whipped | 1 cup | 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed OR chill a 13 oz. can of evaporated miln until ice crystals form; add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and whip until stiff. |
| Cream cheese | 1 cup shredded | 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth |
| Cream of tartar | 1 teaspoon | 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar |
| Crème fraiche | 1 cup | Combine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature |
| Dill plant - fresh or dried | 3 heads | 1 tablespoon dill weed |
| Egg - uncooked | 1 large (3 tablespoons) | 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR 1/2 a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 2 yolks plus 1 tablespoon water (for cookies) OR 2 yolks (for custards, cream fillings, and similar mixtures) |
| Egg white | 1 large /2 tablespoons) | 2 teaspoons thawed frozen egg whites OR 2 tablespoons sifted dry egg white powder plus 2 tablespoons warm water |
| Egg yolk | 1 yolk (1 1/2 tablespoons) | 3 1/2 tablespoons thawed frozen egg yolk OR 2 tablespoons sifted dried egg yolk |
| Evaporated milk | 1 cup | 1 cup light cream |
| Fats for baking | 1 cup | 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree |
| Flour - Bread | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten |
| Flour - Cake | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons |
| Flour - Self Rising | 1 cup | 7/8 cup (or 1 cup minus 2 teaspoons) all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt |
| Fruit - fresh, cut up | 1 1/2 cups | 16 oz. can, drained |
| Garlic | 1 clove | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic OR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt - reduce salt in recipe OR 1 teaspoon chopped garlic or 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic |
| Gelatin | 1 tablespoon, granulated | 2 teaspoons agar |
| Gelatin - flavored | 3 oz. | 1 tablespoon gelatin plus 2 cups fruit juice |
| Ginger - dry | 1 teaspoon | 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger |
| Ginger - fresh | 1 teaspoon, minced | 1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger |
| Green onion | 1/2 cup, chopped | 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots |
| Hazelnuts | 1 cup whole | 1 cup macadamia nuts OR 1 cup almonds |
| Herbs - fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 teaspoon chopped dried herbs |
| Herring | 8 ounces | 8 ounces of sardines |
| Honey | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup |
| Hot pepper sauce | 1 teaspoon | 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar |
| Ketchup | 1 cup | 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar |
| Lard | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter |
| Lemon grass | 2 fresh stalks | 1 tablespoon lemon zest |
| Lemon juice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice |
| Lemon zest | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice |
| Lime juice | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice |
| Lime zest | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon lemon zest |
| Macadamia nuts | 1 cup | 1 cup almonds OR 1 cup hazelnuts |
| Mace | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon nutmeg |
| Maple sugar - grated and packed | 1/2 cup | 1 cup maple syrup OR 1 tablespoon white sugar |
| Marshmallows - mini | 1 cup | 8-10 regular marshmallows |
| Margarine | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butter OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt |
| Mayonnaise | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 cup cottage cheese, pureed |
| Milk - skim | 1 cup | 4-5 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water |
| Milk - condensed | 1 can | 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry milk to 1/2 cup warm water plus 3/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons melted butter; stir until smooth OR heat 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons evaporated milk plus 1 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons butter until butter is melted and sugar dissolved. |
| Milk - whole | 1 cup | 1 cup soy milk OR 1 cup rice milk OR 1 cup water or juice OR 1/4 cup dry milk powder plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water |
| Mint - fresh | 1/4 cup chopped | 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves |
| Molasses | 1 cup | Mix together 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar |
| Mushrooms - fresh | 1 pound (2 cups) | 2-3 cups whole OR 5 cups sliced OR one 10 oz. can |
| Mushrooms - canned | 4 oz. | 2 cups sliced fresh OR 6 tablespoons whole dried mushrooms |
| Mustard - dry | 1 teaspoon | 1 tablespoon prepared mustard |
| Mustard - prepared | 1 tablespoon | Mix together 1 tablespoon dried mustard, 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar |
| Onion | 1 cup, chopped | 1 cup chopped green onions OR 1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder |
| Onion powder | 1 tablespoon | 1 medium onion, chopped OR 4 tablespoons fresh chopped onion |
| Orange juice | 1 tablespoon | 1 tablespoon other citrus juice |
| Orange zest | 1 tablespoon | 1/2 teaspoon orange extract OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice |
| Parmesan cheese | 1/2 cup, grated | 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese OR 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese |
| Parsley | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil OR 1 teaspoon dried parsley |
| Pepperoni | 1 ounce | 1 ounce salami |
| Pimento | 2 yablespoons | 1 tablespoon dried red bell pepper, rehydrated OR 3 tablespoons fresh red bell pepper, chopped |
| Pumpkin Pie Spice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon allspice and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg |
| Raisins | 1 cup | 1 cup dried currants OR 1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped pitted prunes |
| Rice - white | 1 cup, cooked | 1 cup cooked barley OR 1 cup cooked bulgur OR 1 cup cooked brown or wild rice |
| Ricotta | 1 cup | 1 cup dry cottage cheese OR 1 cup silken tofu |
| Rum | 1 tablespoon | 1/2 teaspoon rum extract, plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon |
| Saffron | 1/4 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon turmeric |
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 1 cup | 1 cup chocolate candies OR 1 cup peanut butter or other flavored chips OR 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup chopped dried fruit |
| Shallots - chopped | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped green onion |
| Shortening - melted | 1 cup | 1 cup cooking oil |
| Shortening - solid | 1 cup | 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe OR 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons lard |
| Sour cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter |
| Sour milk | 1 cup | 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice mixed with enough milk to make 1 cup - Let stand 5 minutes to thicken |
| Soy sauce | 1/2 cup | 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water |
| Stock - beef or chicken | 1 cup | 1 cube beef or chicken bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water |
| Sugar - brown | 1 cup packed | 1 cup granulated white sugar |
| Sugar - granulated | 1 cup | 1 1/2 cups corn syrup (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup) OR 1 1/3 cup molasses (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/3 cup) OR 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar OR 1 cup brown sugar, packed OR 3/4 cup honey (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup; for each cup of honey used, add 1/2 tsp. baking soda) |
| Tomato juice | 1 cup | 1/2 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup water |
| Vegetable oil - for baking | 1 cup | 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree |
| Vegetable oil - for frying | 1 cup | 1 cup lard OR 1 cup vegetable shortening |
| Vinegar | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine |
| Wine - for cooking | 1 cup | 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water |
| Yeast - active dry | 1 (.25 ounce) package | 1 cake compressed yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast |
| Yogurt - plain | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup cottage cheese, pureed |