25 January 2023

Ingredient substitutions

You can still make the food you love with these ingredient substitutions. Whether you run out of the ingredient, don’t have it handy, or trying to avoid an ingredient because of an allergy or intolerance, check out these ideas below for some simple ingredient substitutions.

What can I use instead of eggs?

There are a few options for egg substitutes and many works well for baking cakes, brownies, cookies.

To replace one egg, you can use:

• Ground flaxseed – mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of cold water, stir, leave to stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
• Whole chia seeds – mix 1 tablespoon of whole chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of cold water, stir, leave to stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
• Silken tofu – use ¼ cup silken tofu, blended
• Mayonnaise – use 2 or 3 tablespoons
• Banana – mash half a large banana
• Applesauce – use ¼ cup applesauce
• Aquafaba, chickpea brine – use 2 tablespoons aquafaba in replacement of 1 egg white or 3 tablespoons for 1 whole egg

For glazing, instead of an egg wash, milk also works or heated apricot jam brushed over the cooked bread or pastry.

For breading, a mix of cornstarch and water can work before coating with breadcrumbs.

What can I use instead of heavy cream for whipping?

• Evaporated milk – pour into a bowl and chill until icy cold, whip. Serve immediately.

What can I use instead of buttermilk?

• Yoghurt – mixed with a small amount of water so it is a pourable consistency.
• Kefir

Buttermilk is traditionally the liquid left behind after churning butter, now it is more common to get cultured buttermilk in stores.

🥞 Because of it’s acidity buttermilk is great addition when making pancakes, scones, and cakes as it helps add lightness and tenderness, and is also tasty in sauces or as a marinade and to tenderise chicken.

When a recipe calls for buttermilk and you don’t have any, or it only asks for a small amount and you already have yoghurt or kefir in your fridge use these instead ✨

– If using yoghurt, use an unsweetened type and if it is thick like a Greek yoghurt mix with a small amount of water so it is a pourable consistency like custard.

🥛 You can also make your own buttermilk from milk, by adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup milk, gently stir and let it stand for 10 minutes. Check that the mixture has turned into a curd like and thick consistency, then it is ready to use!

Some dairy products can be used interchangeably, such as

• Sour cream and unsweetened yoghurt
• Ricotta and cottage cheese
• Cream cheese and mascarpone

Non-dairy alternatives – butter and yoghurt

What can I use instead of butter?

If using a substitute in recipes the amount you need may be different to the amount of butter written on the ingredients list.

👇Below is a general guide for the ratio of butter : substitute
Avocado 1:1
Coconut oil 1:1
Banana 1:1
Pumpkin puree 1:3/4 (Pureed squash, butternut, and sometimes kumara can also be used)
Olive and vegetable oil 1:3/4
Applesauce 1:1/2
Nut butters 1:1 (but use half nut butter and half oil)

What can I use instead of yoghurt?

Did you know mashed bananas and apples (cooked into applesauce) can be this versatile and be used as a substitute for yoghurt in baking too? 🤩
So save those brown bananas and soft or partly eaten apples to use them in your baking!

🥥 If you’re looking for a creamier dairy free substitute, silken tofu, and coconut yoghurt or cream/milk are the substitutes to go with.

What can I use instead of baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda?

• Use 1 teaspoon baking powder to replace ¼ teaspoon baking soda

What can I use instead of onions?

• Leek
• Spring onions
• Shallots

Ran out of breadcrumbs?

Rolled oats, crushed cereal and crackers are some ideas for tasty ingredient substitutes that can be used instead of breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs are great for binding mixtures, and can also be used for coating meats and vegetables to give a crunchier texture.

• Rolled oats are better used in mixtures for binding rather than coating as it doesn’t get crisp. For a finer texture blitz the oats in a food processor or strong blender.
• Crushed cereal is great as a coating, use cereals like corn flakes or bran flakes and make dishes like cornflake chicken.
• Crushed crackers can be used as a binder or crispy coating depending on how fine it is crushed, for binding finely crush for a crispy coating lightly crush.

With any substitutions and change of ingredient this may affect some of the flavour or texture. For more ideas check out this link.

There are some ingredients that you can make yourself,

Brown sugar – mix 1 cup white sugar and 1 tablespoon molasses.

Icing sugar – blend white sugar in a food processor until fine and powdery.

Baking powder – mix ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon cream of tartar, to make 1 teaspoon baking powder

Self-raising flour – mix 2 teaspoons baking powder to every 150g flour

Unsweetened chocolate – mix 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon butter, margarine, or vegetable oil to make around 28g chocolate

Barbecue sauce – mix ¾ cup tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons mustard, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar.

For more ideas on sauces, and condiments you can make at home, check out this link.