Basil plays a vital role in Mediterranean cooking. It is an ideal ingredient in recipes such as pesto, pasta sauces, dressings, and toppings on a pizza. It gives a subtle hint of sweet, minty, aromatic flavor initially. Are you cooking a recipe that calls for Basil and you have stuck in between your cooking process? If yes, then you shouldn’t have to be worried. This thing happens to everyone. It had many times with me. Every ingredient and herb has its substitute. We just only need to find that perfect substitute to save our hard work of making our delicious dish/recipe.
Similarly, Basil has its own. Before knowing Basil substitutes, you need to know about their nutrient profile as well as health benefits so that it would be easy to choose the perfect substitute for your recipe/dish.
Table of Contents
What is Basil, Actually?
Basil is an herb that belongs to the mint family. It is used in varieties of recipes/dishes like Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. It has a sweet smell and peppery taste. Basil leaves are large, green in color, and have a texture marked with a series of veins. There are over 60 varieties are found in the whole world. Each has its own distinct flavor. The taste of Basil depends on the variety. Sweet Basil has a sweet and fresh aroma with a hint of mint and a subtle peppery flavor.
Nutrient Profile of Basil:
In this table, some nutrients are given in micrograms (mcg).
| Nutrient | Amount in one 2.6-gram tablespoon of basil | Daily adult requirement |
| Calcium (mg) | 4.6 | 1,000–1,300 |
| Vitamin A (mcg, RAE) | 6.9 | 700–900 |
| Beta carotene (mcg) | 81.7 | No data |
| Beta cryptoxanthin (mcg) | 1.2 | No data |
| Lutein and zeaxanthin (mcg) | 147.0 | No data |
| Vitamin K (mcg) | 10.8 | 75–120 |
Health Benefits of Basil:
- Basil works well for digestion.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties.
- It helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Basil may help fight cancer.
- Basil contains natural antibacterial properties.
What can I Substitute for Basil?
Are you stuck in between your cooking process due to not having Basil as an ingredient? Here, we have a list of the best substitute for Basil. You can choose accordingly what you have in your pantry/kitchen right now. Let’s have a look at these substitutes.
1. Oregano:
Oregano is easily available in stores. It is considered to be one of the best substitutes for Basil in terms of taste. Both types of Oregano fresh and dried can be used in a recipe to give an Italian taste. Oregano has a strong aroma than basil. You only need a pinch of Oregano in place of Basil. You can also add more if you want. This substitute works well as a good Basil replacement in pasta, pizza, stews, soups, etc.
2. Tarragon:
Tarragon is typically used in French cooking. This replacement will not taste the same as Basil, but it will also taste pretty good in savory dishes/recipes. You can use both fresh and dried Tarragon to replace Basil in your cooking. It is great with meat dishes like chicken and fish. When a recipe calls subtle aniseed flavor, you can use Tarragon as a Basil alternative.
3. Mint:
Mint has a distinctive flavor. Some Mints are milder than other types of Mints. Milder Mints work as a perfect substitute for basil leaves. If you don’t know then we are suggesting you use a small amount of normal Mint because it comes with a stronger flavor when compared with Basil. You can other herbs like Oregano or Thyme for a better taste of Basil.
4. Parsley:
Parsley is used as a culinary herb in both dried and fresh forms. It has a mild and bitter flavor. The taste of Parsley is not as strong as Basil’s. It is an ideal replacement for Basil in both Italian or Mediterranean recipes/dishes. Parsley is easy to cultivate at home. You will love the way it mixes with other ingredients. You can use it in the same quantity as Basil. This can be a great fresh basil substitute.
5. Dill:
Dill is also an herb like Basil with some earthy flavor. It is not that much similar to Basil still it can be used as a seasoning for your food. Dill works perfectly in soups, stews, and other curry dishes/recipes. Dill can also be used to season stir-fry and salads as well as different meat recipes/dishes. You can use it as a dried basil substitute or fresh because it is easily available in stores in both varieties dried or fresh. Always keep in mind that the fresh one has a stronger flavor than the dried one.
6. Thyme:
Thyme has a similar taste profile to Basil, but it is warmer than Basil. The taste of Thyme is strong, peppery, and has a hint of mint. If you want to add some wow factor to your tomato sauce or give an extreme flavor to your chicken, Thyme is the perfect herb. It doesn’t lose its flavor after drying like the Oregano.
7. Basil Essential Oil:
If you don’t have any dried or fresh basil, you can use Basil Essential Oil instead of the actual Basil. These oils are highly concentrated, but you don’t need to use them in huge amounts. You only need a few drops to get the same flavor of Basil in your recipe/dish, it would not give that perfect texture or color to your dish/recipe as compared to the actual dried or fresh Basil. Still, it is the best Basil alternative when you find none of the above-mentioned substitutes.
8. Rosemary:
If you are looking for a strong savory taste, fresh Rosemary is the perfect herb. Rosemary works better in tomato sauces and tomato recipes/dishes. The fresh version of Rosemary has a richer flavor than the dried ones. So, sprinkle in your dish/recipe to get a herby twist as a substitute for Basil leaves.
9. Cilantro:
Cilantro is a good substitute for Basil mostly in Thai recipes/dishes. If you like the taste of Cilantro, then you can replace it in any dish/recipe that calls for Basil. Cilantro and Basil both look good when garnishing a recipe or salad. You can sprinkle it as a final touch to any recipe/dish such as pizza, pasta, and stews.
10. Celery:
Celery might work as you need in a recipe in terms of taste. This Basil alternative works really well with tomatoes and those recipes/dishes that contain tomatoes. It has a mild flavor and you can use Celery in the same amount as Basil. You can mix it with some parsley leaves to give the right texture and some Italian flavor to the food.
11. Sage:
Sage has a different and strong taste than Basil. It might be difficult to find other perfect substitutes for your recipe. If you find Sage, this would be the perfect choice for you. You can mix it with garlic, lemon, and tomato to make a perfect substitute to form a typical seasoning in Italian dishes.
12. Spinach Leaves:
Spinach Leaves are an excellent option if you are making pesto. Spinach Leaves can also be used as a fresh Basil substitute. Not everyone likes the taste of Basil so it would be good to use Spinach Leaves in place of Basil to get a rich green color. Spinach Leaves are more suitable to use in recipes such as pizzas, omelets, casseroles, etc. Adding some Spinach Leaves to pesto will give a punch of mild flavor.
13. Italian Seasoning:
An Italian Seasoning includes parsley, rosemary, thyme, pepper, oregano, and, of course, Basil. It is easily available in stores. Please! check your cupboards for Italian Seasoning if you run out of Basil. You can use it according to your recipe call. This seasoning is full of flavors and sometimes, works as a dried Basil substitute in most scenarios.
14. Arugula:
Arugula has a peppery taste that makes it similar to Basil. It matches with spinach and fresh cilantro in a pesto. It goes well with the salad, but it can mix well with other ingredients when added to a recipe/dish.
15. Lemon Balm:
Lemon Balm looks similar to Mint. It has a minty and lemony flavor. Lemon Basil is a great substitute and citrus flavors such as salads, omelets, poultry, and fish stews. If your recipe/dish calls for Basil, you can use Lemon Balm in place of Basil.
16. Poultry Seasoning:
When you need a flavor to flavor meat dishes like chicken, fish, etc and the recipe calls for Basil, Poultry Seasoning would be a great Basil replacement. This seasoning gives a pappy taste to your chicken and fish recipe. Keep a jar containing Poultry Seasoning in your cupboard when you run out of fresh or dried basil to give an extra dimension to your recipe/dish.
17. Basil Scented Olive Oil:
Olive Oil is available in different flavors in the market. One of them is Basil. If you run out of Basil and use basil-flavored olive oil, you will have to adapt it to your recipes because it won’t go well in all of them. You can also use this product in stews and baked recipes/dishes.
FAQ:-
What can you substitute for Basil in Pesto?
There are lots of substitutes you can use to make a delicious pesto. The substitute you want to use in pesto should be either leafy greens such as spinach, kale, arugula, watercress, or even seaweed or herb such as parsley, mint, Sage, and Tarragon. Don't get so much confusion about what to choose, you can combine both leafy green substitutes with an herb.
Is Basil Pesto bad for you?
The traditional pesto sauce contains olive oil, pine nuts, fresh basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. It's a healthy addition to any diet. whether it's high in calories and fat. Pesto offers lots of healthy nutrients with a punch of flavors that many other sauces don't have.
What can I use in place of Basil in Tomato Sauce?
Basil is one of the milder herbs that is quite difficult to replace. If it is being used in an already cooked recipe/dish, such as tomato sauce and pizza, can be replaced by Oregano which is also a milder herb that can be used easily.
Now, you know the best Basil 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. 🙂
