Top 14 😍 Best Substitute for Cardamom Pods in a Recipe

Cardamom Pods are used in curries, stews, and soups. The ground Cardamom is used in sweet dishes such as cakes and pastries etc. Are you making any of these recipes/dishes and run out of Cardamom Pods? You may get anxious about not completing your cooking process due to the absence of Cardamom Pods. Every spice or ingredient has its substitute similarly, Cardamom has its own. We have mentioned the best Cardamom substitute. You just need to check what is available in your kitchen right now.

Before going ahead, you have to know about Cardamom Pods so that it would be easy for you to use its substitute.

What is Cardamom Pods, Actually?

Cardamom is a spice made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family. Cardamom Pods are spindle in shape and have triangular cross-sections around them. Inside Cardamom Pods, there are lots of black color seeds available. You can use the whole Cardamom Pod or seeds or ground Cardamom in a recipe. The color and size of Cardamom seeds may differ with their different secies. Here are some nutrient profiles and health benefits of Cardamom.

Nutrient Profile of Cardamom:

Health Benefits of Cardamom:

• Cardamom may contain cancer-fighting compounds.
• It may protect from diseases due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
• This may help with digestive problems including ulcers.
• Cardamom prevents cavities and treats bad breath.
• It may lower blood sugar levels.

What can I Substitute for Cardamom?

Are you stuck between your cooking preparation and don’t have Cardamom? Well! You need not worry about that. Your cooking process won’t stop because we have listed some substitutes for Cardamom right here. You just need to choose what you have in your kitchen right now to replace Cardamom with its substitute.

1. Black Cardamom:

Black Cardamom can be a good Cardamom alternative. It can be used in savory dishes. The taste of Black Cardamom is different from Green Cardamom. It is used as a spice in recipes. Black Cardamom is not applicable in sweet dishes/recipes. You can use an equal amount of Black Cardamom in place of white or green.

2. Allspice Powder:

Allspice can be found in Central America, Southern Mexico, and the Greater Antilles. It has so many names at different locations such as pimenta, pimento, myrtle pepper, or Jamaica pepper. Allspice has an inbuilt flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove altogether. You use whole Allspice or grounded Allspice. It all depends on your recipe requirements. This ingredient can be easily available at anyone’s home.

3. Ginger:

Ginger is used in making sweet dishes such as cakes and pastries. It is also used in some delicious curries and stews. If you are making any of the curries and stews that call Cardamom, you can use Ginger as a Cardamom replacement. It gives a spicy warmth and citrusy zing as Cardamom. If you want to use fresh Ginger in your recipe, you should grate it or cut it into small pieces. Using fresh ginger instead of Cardamom can make your recipe more gingery. We are suggesting you use ground ginger in place of fresh ginger.

4. Cloves:

Clove is an aromatic spice with a bittersweet flavor. Cloves provide flavor to marinades, meats, curries, fruits, fish, stews, pies, rice, mulled wine, and tea. It works well with Cinnamon and Nutmeg mainly in sweet dishes and drinks. This spice has a very strong flavor. We suggest you should use a small amount of Cloves in recipes/dishes as a Cardamom alternative.

5. Apple Pie Spice:

Apple Pie Spice is a mixture of Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and allspice. If you are making any sweet dish, you can use Apple Pie Spice as a Cardamom substitute. You can use it in pies, cakes, muffins, pancakes, smoothies, cookies, or cupcakes.

6. Coriander Seeds:

Coriander seeds have a quite pungent aroma. When you use ground Coriander as a Cardamom replacement, the aroma changes to earthy and nutty due to its natural oils. The natural oil of Coriander Seeds is the main cause of using it as a substitute for Cardamom. These seeds are perfect for curries, pickling vegetables, and some baked goods because seeds have a similar flavor to Cardamom.

7. Cumin:

Cumin belongs to the parsley family. It has a sweet-bitter earthy flavor. Cumin is mainly used in savory dishes. This can be a great Cardamom substitute in curry recipes. It is the most prominent spice in Asian and Mexican cuisines. It works better when it is used as a substitute for black Cardamom because green Cardamom has a sweet flavor that is mostly used in sweet dishes.

8. Nutmeg:

Nutmeg is common in sweet and savory recipes/dishes. It has some nutty and sweet flavor. Nutmeg is widely used in making baked goods such as cupcakes, French toast, or pudding as well. The distinctive pungent aroma and nutty and sweet taste make it a great spice for many comforting recipes/dishes. It is a traditional spice in mulled wine, eggnog, and mulled cider. This spice is ideal for meats, potatoes, vegetables, sausages, soups, sauces, beef stews, puddings, and baked goods.

9. Mace:

Mace is an outer covering of Nutmeg. It can be found in orange or red color. It has a unique flavor to the Nutmeg which is a combination of Cinnamon and Black Pepper. This spice works better when it is used for light dishes like fish, vegetables, meat, soups, baked products, cakes, and pies, for pickling and preserving.

10. Galangal:

Galangal belongs to the Ginger Family. It looks similar to Ginger but has lighter smoother skin and hard pulp than the Ginger. It mainly belongs to its native country Indonesia. Now, it has grown in many Asian countries. Galangal is used to make some ayurvedic medicines also. The strong and citrusy flavor of Galangal makes it a great substitute for Cardamom. Galangal is used in some Asian recipes such as curries, noodles, stir fry, and sauces. Some Thai dishes are also prepared with Galangal.

11. Cinnamon and Cloves:

Cinnamon gives some sweet and a little spicy flavor. When it is mixed with Cloves and used as a Cardamom Substitute, it replicates many of the intense flavors of cardamom. This unique replacement of Cardamom works well with soup, broth, and stews.

12. Cinnamon and Nutmeg:

This blend is less spicy than the other two combinations. This warm mixture of Cinnamon and Nutmeg resembles the Cardamom flavors. This blend gives spicy, woody, and sweet notes to rice, stews, and other savory dishes.

13. Cinnamon and Ginger:

Cinnamon and Ginger are two spices that offer a flavorful blend of spiciness and some woody notes. The taste of this blend is similar to the cinnamon and cloves blend. It is milder in flavor and making it a better choice for baking. You can use this blend as a cardamom pod substitute.

14. Allspice and Peppercorns:

Allspice can be used in meat, curries, and stews with a combination of Peppercorns. This equal combination of spices makes it powerful and gives more sharpness to the recipe. This combination works well in curry recipes and soups.

FAQ:-

Now, you know the best Cardamom Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂