5 Substitutes for Cilantro

Cilantro, also known as Chinese parsley, Mexican parsley, pak chee, koyendoro, culantrillo, green coriander or coriander leaf, is used throughout the world as a green vegetable and as a seasoning. Cilantro is used to season salsas, stir-fries, curries, soups, stews, meats and salad dressings. The stems, leaves and roots are most commonly used, while the plant's seeds-- caleld coriander-- are also used as seasonings.

If you are interested in cooking a dish that calls for cilantro, you may need to use a cilantro substitute. The following 5 cilantro substitutes can be used in most recipes that call for the herb.

Italian Parsley

Cilantro and parsley are only distantly related, but they are slightly similar in taste and appearance. Consider using classic Italian parsley, curly-leaf parsley or flat-leaf parsley as a cilantro substitute in your favorite recipes. If you'd like, you can add a bit of lemon juice and some ground coriander to make the flavor resemble cilantro.

Mint Leaf

Use mint leaves as a cilantro substitute if you don't have access to cilantro or parsley. Use half of the amount of spearmint that you would use if you were cooking with cilantro. A small amount of balsamic vinegar can curb the chilly flavor of the mint leaves, making the cilantro substitute more viable.

Papalo

The Mexican herb papalo, also known as papaloquelite, is very similar in taste and fragrance to cilantro. However, it is more pungent and has a much stronger odor. Use 2/3s of the amount of papalo that you would use in a recipe calling for cilantro, or use equivalent amounts if you want your food to have a stronger flavor.

Basil

Basil leaf is somewhat similar to cilantro; both herbs have a slightly sweet and exotic flavor. Like cilantro, basil is strongest when used raw and loses its flavor quickly during cooking. Substitute cilantro for basil in Mediterranean recipes for an interesting flair, or use basil in lieu of cilantro if you dislike cilantro leaf's alkaline flavor.

Celery Leaf

Although celery leaves aren't ofen used as seasonings, they can act in place of cilantro in many recipes. Because of their mild flavor and cilanto-like texture, celery leaves lend a very similar flavor to salsas and stir-fries. Simply purchase celery stalks and use the leaves as cilantro substitutes, instead of throwing them in the trash or compost.

4 Substitutes for Black Peppercorn

Black peppercorn is a major staple in homes throughout the world. In many Western cultures, black pepper sits alongside salt as a table condiment. Black peppercorn is completely unrelated to pepper fruits-- members of the capsicum family such as cayenne, habanero and jalepeno. However, related "peppers" and similar-tasting plants can be ideal substitutes for black peppercorn if you happen to run out of black peppercorn in the middle of a recipe.

White Peppercorn

A good substitute for black peppercorn, white peppercorn offers a similar flavor. However, it is a bit more mild and delicate than its darker, bolder-tasting counterpart. To use white peppercorn as a substitute for black pepper, use about one and a third times as much pepper as the recipe calls for.

Papaya Seeds

The seeds inside a papaya are ideal substitutes for black peppercorn. They are nearly identical to black peppercorns in color, taste, texture and appearance. Dry papaya seeds overnight to use them in lieu of black pepper. Save money by doing this every time you buy papayas; it salvages the seeds and eliminates the expense of black pepper.

Pink Peppercorn

Although pink peppercorn is not a true peppercorn, it has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor similar to white peppercorn. Use more pink peppercorn than the recipe calls for in black peppercorn; it is less bold and more is required to accomplish the same culinary effect. Note that large amounts of pink peppercorn can give white sauces a rosy undertone.

Coriander Seeds

Coriander's flavor is only slightly similar to black peppercorn, but it can work as a substitute for black pepper if you are in a pinch. It will alter your dish's flavor somewhat, making the end product sweeter and less spicy. Simply grind the seeds as you would grind black peppercorn and use them directly in your recipe.

3 Substitutes for Chives

Chives are the leaves of members of the onion family, allium. Most chives sold in grocery stores are cultivated specifically for their use in recipes, their bulbs are not as fragrant or flavorful as most garlic and onion plants. If you are in the middle of a recipe and don't have access to chives, any of these chive substitutes may act as viable alternatives.

Wild Onion

You're probably not far from access to wild onions, which yield edible chives that can be used in recipes as chive substitutes. Wild onion grows as a weed throughout most of North America and it's likely that it's growing rampantly in your yard. Simply harvest a few handfuls of wild onion leaves, wash them thoroughly, and slice them thinly for use instead of chives.

Garlic Chive

Garlic chive, also known as garlic leaf or Chinese chive, are good substitutes for regular chives. These fleshy, pungent, flavorful leaves contain large amounts of the sulfurous compounds for which the onion family is renowned. Use garlic leaf as a chive substitute, using lower amounts of leaves than the recipe calls for.

Leeks

The leek is another member of the onion family, and it is very similar in taste, origin, texture and appearance to chives. Leek is closely related elephant garlic, and its edible bundle of leaf sheaths form an edible stalk. To use leeks as a substitute for chives substitute in cooking, use the same ratio of leek, and slice the leeks relatively thinly.