8 Substitutes For Savory

Are you looking for some excellent substitutes for savory dishes? If so, this article is the one you need!

Cooking savory food has been a part of our culture since ancient times. It’s not surprising that it’s still trendy today. However, suppose you are trying to cut down on your meat consumption or want to try something different. In that case, some savory substitutes can be other spices such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano, which have hints of pine and are a natural aphrodisiacs.

Savory is a spice with a strong flavor from herbs and vegetables. The most common savory ingredients include basil, bay leaves, celery, garlic, onion, parsley, sage, tarragon, thyme, and chives. These herbs and vegetables have a milder taste than other spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and ginger.

Moreover, winter savory is often used in soups, stews, sauces, casseroles, and even desserts. It adds a great depth of flavor and aromatic herbs to many foods. You will find that winter savory is an essential common ingredient when making chicken soup, beef stew, and lasagna.

There are plenty available if you are looking for savory substitutes for enticing flavors. Some of them include:

1. Winter Savory

This type of savory substitute is the closest to traditional savory. This herb is also known as winter savory. It grows all year round, but its best season is autumn and spring. This herb is native to Europe and Asia.

In addition, winter savory is commonly found growing wild in North America. It is easy to grow and can be planted directly into the ground or grown indoors. Moreover, it does well in pots and containers.

Most people use winter savory when they cook soups, stews, and sauces. They also like to add it to their salads. It is considered a salad herb. The Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is a great recipe for winter savory.

2. Thyme

Thyme is another savory herb that can be substituted for tasty. It is native to southern France and Italy. The Romans first cultivated it. Today, it is widely used in cooking throughout the world.

You can use thyme in any dish where savory would generally go. It goes exceptionally well with poultry, fish, lamb, pork, and veal. It is also good with eggs, beans, potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, and fruit.

A great recipe to try with thyme is steak au poivre. To make this recipe, you must sauté the steaks in butter until browned. Then, remove the steaks and set them aside. Next, pour half of the fat from the pan and sprinkle the steaks with salt and peppery flavor. Finally, return the steaks to the pan and place over medium heat. Once the steaks start sizzling, add 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add two tablespoons of chopped fresh thyme and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

3. Sage

Sage is a beautiful savory substitute for savory. It belongs to the mint family. It is native to central Asia. However, it is now widely distributed around the globe. Aside from its bitter flavor, this is an excellent flavor to savory that you can add to your dish.

It is one of the oldest culinary herbs. It has been used for centuries to flavor meats, vegetables, and beverages. It is also used as a garnish for dishes. It comes with a pungent flavor and a stronger flavor among other herbs and spices.

One of the best recipes to try using fresh sage is the Chicken Cacciatore. To prepare this recipe, you will first boil your chicken pieces. After cooking, drain the water and pat dry the chicken pieces. Then, coat the chicken pieces with flour. Next, add olive oil to the skillet and sear the chicken pieces on each side. Remove the chicken pieces from the skillet and keep warm. Now, add more olive oil to the skillet.

When the oil starts smoking, add the garlic cloves and onions. Cook these ingredients until soft. Then, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and red wine. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Lastly, add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cover with foil—Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

4. Marjoram

Marjoram is a type of spice route that originated in the Mediterranean region. It is often referred to as oregano. It is similar to oregano but has a sweeter taste and citrus flavor.

This herb is most prevalent in Greek cuisine. It is also used in Middle Eastern cooking. You can find Marjoram in many grocery stores.

The best way to use Marjoram is to mix it with other spices. For example, you could combine it with basil or rosemary. Another great combination is to use marjorams with a lemon zest, which creates deep, peppery-pine flavors. The flavor of Marjoram can be a great alternative with flavors of sage, intense flavors of winter, and hearty flavor of basil.

5. Oregano

Oregano is another savory substitute that is similar to traditional savory. It is considered to be the original savory. The Greeks and Romans first cultivated it. The word “oregano” means “mountain herb.” Moreover, oregano has a woody flavor and bitter mint flavor that can always upgrade meat dishes, even egg dishes too!

Oregano is widely used in Mediterranean holiday cooking. It is also used in Mexican cuisine. It is a member of the mint family and is native to southern Europe and Africa. Moreover, it is now grown in California and Arizona.

You can use oregano in both fresh and dried form. When using fresh oregano, make sure to remove any stems before adding it to your dish. Also, don’t forget to wash it thoroughly.

When using dried oregano, crumble it up and mix it with your dish. Another way to use oregano is to sprinkle it over your favorite pasta dishes.

6. Basil

Fresh basil is probably the most popular and used savory alternative best for winter season due to its sweet aroma. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family of hardy plant that has a tough texture but an excellent savory flavor profile. This aromatic mixture is native to India and Southeast Asia and is also used for bacterial infections. It comes with a peppery taste best for roasted meat and root vegetables.

In addition, it is commonly found in Italian, French, Spanish, and Thai cuisines. Tender leaves are usually used when making pesto sauce. They are also added to soups and are mostly the main ingredient in stews and various dishes.

Another everyday use of basil is to top pizzas. If you want to use basil in your pizza, you should cut off the bottom part of the leaf. Then, place the leaves on the dough. Finally, bake the pizza at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes.

7. Rosemary

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub that grows in the Mediterranean region. Its name comes from the Latin word rosmarinus, which means “of roses.”

It is one of the oldest herbs known to man. It is believed that rosemary was first cultivated around 3,000 BC. However, it wasn’t until the Roman Empire that they started growing it commercially.

Today, rosemary is still very popular. It is used in various types of food including meat, fish, vegetables, bread, and desserts. Moreover, it is also used in herbal teas.

8. Herbes De Provence

Herbes de Provence is a mixture of herbs that includes thyme, basil, lavender, rosemary, fennel, and bay green leaves. It is mostly used in French cuisine.

However, you can also use herbes de provence in American cuisine. Just like regular herbs, you can use them in different ways. For instance, you can use them to add pine flavor to meats, poultry, seafood, salads, and sauces.

FAQs

What Spice Is Called Savory?

Savory is also called as a seasoning. These are spice mixtures that has a strong taste. It is mainly used in European Monasteries and American cuisines, especially salad dressings and poultry seasoning.

Most savory spice blends include black pepper, salt, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, mustard seeds, coriander, caraway, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, allspice, mace, cardamom, and turmeric. It is also a natural antiseptic mostly used to treat sore throats and other ailments. In addition, different types of savory, including summer savory, have popular herbs mixed in it, including Italian seasoning.

What Is A Savory Seasoning Made Of?

A savory seasoning is made of black pepper, salt, and other spices. These ingredients are mixed and ground into a fine powder.

To make your savory seasoning, combine 1/2 teaspoon each of black pepper, salt, sugar, and paprika. Mix these ingredients well. Next, add 2 teaspoons of dry mustard, one tablespoon of granulated garlic, and one tablespoon of onion powder.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Savory?

Savory can be beneficial to our health. It helps us lose weight. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Moreover, it helps reduce cholesterol levels. It also improves digestion. Furthermore, it prevents cancerous cells from spreading.

What Is The Best Substitute For Savory?

While there can be tons of savory substitutes, we recommend using basil. You can either use fresh or dried basil. Dried basil will work better than fresh ones.

This is because dried basil doesn’t have any moisture content. This makes it easier to mix with other ingredients.

If you don’t want to use basil, you can try oregano, sage, Marjoram, tarragon, mint, dill, and parsley.

Conclusion

Savory is genuinely a versatile spice. It can be used in many traditional dishes. It is perfect when combined with other herbs. You can use it to season meats, vegetables, soups, sauces, and even desserts.

Not only that, but savory is accessible and can be found at most grocery stores. Therefore, if you are looking for a great delicious substitute with both pungent flavor and stronger flavor for a variety of dishes, you should consider using basil. It will add savory in cooking and is the best among other herb substitutes.

Do you know any other savory substitutes? If so, please share them with us!