Are you cooking a recipe that calls for allspice? If yes, then you should need to know about Allspice substitutes. Yeah! you might be frustrated not having the allspice right now. Still, you need to calm down and think about what kind of other spices you have. Every time we think that if we don’t have all the ingredients, we can’t cook the food tasty. We know that spices matter in a recipe, but what really matters is the process of making the food. So, why are you thinking too much about not having an ingredient or spice?
First, we need to know about what is allspice, actually. So, we could differentiate and find the best substitutes for allspice and make the food tasty as it is with allspice.
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What is Allspice, Actually?
As you know that allspice sounds like it’s a mixture of spices. Sometimes, this name misguides people. Basically, allspice is a dry berry. It can be found in the market in powder form. It enhances the curry dishes. It is also used in some baking dishes like gingerbread cookies.
What does Allspice Taste Like?
Allspice tastes like all the other spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc. That’s why early English speakers named it Allspice. It has the flavor of so many spices unlike some of the other spices.
How long does Allspice last?
All spices lose their flavor after some time. If you are using ground allspice than the berries, it should be used within two years. The whole barries stay last longer than the ground allspice. It should be used within three or four years. You should store the Allspice in a cool and dark place to preserve its flavor.
Health Benefits of Allspice:
All spices have their own benefits. Same Allspice has itw own. We are going to talk about the nutrients and health benefits it gives to you.
Nutrients Profile of Allspice:
A single teaspoon of allspice contains:
- Calories: 5
- Protein: Less than 1 gram
- Fat: Less than 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: Less than 1 gram
- Fiber: Less than 1 gram
- Sugar: Less than 1 gram
Allspice is also an excellent source of:
- Manganese
- Calcium
- Iron
- Vitamin B5
- Copper
- Gallic acid
- Quercetin
- Ericifolin
Health Benefits of Allspice:
- It helps to reduce inflammation.
- Sometimes, it is used to treat nausea.
- It also prevents fungal infection.
- It is also used in toothache remedies.
- It has some cancer-fighting elements like Quercetin, ericifolin, eugenol, and gallic acid that slow down the growth of cancer.
What Can You Substitute for Allspice?
We can’t say that you can’t cook your food without allspice because we have lots of substitutes for Allspice. Here, we are going to talk about the 10 best substitutes you should use in your recipe accordingly. You would be glad to know about its substitutes. These allspice substitutes can’t replicate the exact flavor but can work very well in case you don’t have the allspice.
1. Cloves:
As we know that cloves are strong in flavor. If you want to add ground cloves to your recipe in place of Allspice, you should maintain the ratio of 1:2. Cloves don’t have the peppery taste as the Allspice. You can always add some extra pepper to a delicious dish in order to make up for it. The other thing is that you can use whole cloves in your dishes in place of whole Allspice.
Cloves have some health benefits too. It is high in antioxidants. It kills the bacteria that cause cough and cold. It also promotes bone health and reduces stomach ulcers.
2. Nutmeg:
Nutmeg belongs to the family of hot spices. It doesn’t have the same peppery taste as the cloves. Yeah! you can start adding ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg for every ½ teaspoon of ground Allspice and keep tasting until it is right for you. You can’t taste in some recipes like baked goods. So, we are suggesting taking the half amount of nutmeg for your savory recipe.
Nutmeg has some health benefits like antibacterial properties. It improves libido and has anti-inflammatory properties. This may work well in both taste and health. So, this can be the best Allspice replacement.
3. Pumpkin Pie Spice + Pepper:
If you are cooking any dish/recipe in which the main king is pumpkin, then the best option for you is pumpkin pie spice. You don’t need to add some other spices because pumpkin pie spice contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Pumpkin pie can be used in baked dishes/recipes as an Allspice substitute.
The mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves improves brain memory and its processing because cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties which may protect the brain.
4. Mace:
Mace is a spice that comes from the same tree as Nutmeg. Mace can be a good substitute for Allspice because it tastes like Nutmeg and is used for savory dishes. Mace is the red covering in the Nutmeg seed. It is sold as ground mostly, but in Asian countries, it is used as the whole mace for making Garam Masala.
Mace may taste the same so you don’t need to add the extra quantity. You can add Mace to your recipe in a 1:1 ratio. Mace treats some kidney diseases and helps to improve the menstrual flow. It also cures stomach spasms and intestinal gas.
5. Star Anise:
Star Anise is different in taste and smell. It has a very strong flavor that tastes like sweet licorice. If you don’t like its smell and flavor, you can consider other substitutes. Star Anise flavor is different, but when you use it in your savory dishes/recipes it enhances the taste of Star Anise.
Star Anise contains an oil that is used to cure cough and flu. It also helps in digestion and reduces nausea. All these health benefits are really good for us. If you have Star Anise, you can use it as the whole or ground accordingly.
6. Apple Pie Spice:
Like the pumpkin pie spice, Apple Pie Spice has cinnamon and nutmeg that are perfectly suitable for your dishes/recipes. You can start making apple spices iced tea before making any cake so that you could understand the apple pie spice taste.
7. British Mixed Spice:
British Mixed Spice can be a good Allspice replacement because is a blend of different kinds of five spices like cinnamon, clove, ginger, coriander, allspice, etc. It is mostly used in the United Kingdom. It is an alternative to the Chinese five-spice. It may not give you the same taste as the Chinese five-spice. Its warm spicy taste is enough to use as an alternative for some dishes.
8. Ginger:
Ginger is used in cooking to enhance the flavor. When you use ginger in your recipe, the final taste would be according to the ginger, not the other spices you added before. Make sure you won’t add lots of ginger or ginger powder because ginger is spicier than the other spices like cinnamon and nutmeg but a little aromatic. It is easily available in your nearest grocery shop.
9. Garam Masala:
Garam Masala is mostly used in Middle Eastern countries and some Asian countries like India, Thailand, etc. Garam Masala can work well with various types of dishes/recipes. It is a nice blend of traditional Asian spices. You just need only 1/2 teaspoon of this substitute to give a great flavor to your dish.
10. Sichuan Peppercorn:
Sichuan Peppercorn is a spice. It is the main ingredient in the Chinese five-spice. It is essential in most Szechuan dishes. It is made from the seed husk of Chinese ash trees. It has some citrus-like flavor with some tingling numbness. Sichuan Peppercorn has so many health benefits like spurring the immune system and increasing blood circulation. It also reduces inflammation and body pain.
FAQ:
What is Allspice called in India?
Allspice is known as Kababchini in India.
Is allspice too hot to handle?
Allspice is not a hot ingredient but a spicy one. It works well with sweet and savory dishes/recipes.
Is Allspice is a type of peppercorn?
Allspice is basically dried berries which gives the similar fragrance or aroma that mimics a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Allspice is also known as Jamaican Berries and Jamaican Peppercorns.
Now, you know the best Allspice 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. 🙂
