As you know Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It is mostly used in making sweet recipes/dishes. Sometimes, it is used in savory recipes/dishes to give a perfect color. If you are cooking something special that calls for Saffron and you don’t have it right now, you can use a Saffron replacement instead of the actual Saffron threads.
There is no need to worry about your incomplete cooking due to a lack of Saffron. Every spice has its substitute similar to Saffron. Before knowing Saffron Substitute, you need to know about Saffron in detail so that you can choose what you have in your kitchen or pantry.
Table of Contents
What is Saffron?
Saffron is a thread-like structure growing at top of the Crocus flower. Each thread/stamen is removed by hands and then dried. Approx 200000 stamens are needed to make a pound of this expensive spice. It gives a bright yellow color to the dishes/recipes when it is cooked well. It is not easier to find at normal grocery stores because it is costly than other spices. We have listed some health benefits of Saffron, you may know some health benefits of consuming Saffron daily in your food.
Nutrient Profile of Saffron:
- Saturated Fat 2g
- Cholesterol 0mg
- Sodium 148mg
- Carbohydrates 66g
- Dietary Fiber 3.9g
- Protein 11g
Health Benefits of Saffron:
- Saffron is a powerful antioxidant.
- It may have some cancer-fighting properties.
- Saffron may also reduce PMS symptoms.
- Saffron may improve eyesight in adults.
- It is helpful to reduce the blood sugar level.
What can I Substitute for Saffron?
It’s difficult to find the best substitute for Saffron. Still, we have found some Saffron substitutes that are well experimented with. If you don’t have Saffron right now, you can choose from the substitutes that are mentioned below. You just need to choose according to what you have in your pantry/kitchen. Let’s have a look at the substitutes listed down here.
1. Turmeric:
Turmeric belongs to the Ginger family. It is widely recommended to use as a substitute for Saffron. It adds yellow color similar to Saffron. If you don’t have Saffron, you can use Turmeric as a great Saffron alternative. The amount of using Turmeric depends on the recipe you are making. Using too much Turmeric can cause a bright yellow color with a stronger earthy flavor to the recipe/dish which would not be eatable for everyone. You may stick to the same amount of Turmeric as you use Saffron.
2. Safflower:
Safflower looks quite similar to Saffron. The taste of Safflower is slightly different from Saffron. Still, it is used in many recipes. Safflower can be used in place of Saffron in a variety of dishes from cold salads to soups and sauces to stews. You can use 5-8 threads of Safflower to get the same yellow color as the Saffron.
3. Annatto:
Annatto comes from the seed of the achiote tree. The dark red color of Annatto makes it different from Saffron. It is also called “poor man’s Saffron”. If you get it in the form of powder, you can use it directly in your recipe/dish. Otherwise, it is available in the form of whole seed. You just need to soak it in oil or water, and after half an hour you use that oil or water in your recipe/dish.
4. Cardamom:
Cardamom has a sweet, spicy, and earthy flavor. It is a good choice for certain sweet dishes/recipes. You can use Cardamom to give a yellow shade to your food this is what Saffron does. Cardamom is a good choice when you are making cooking things like soup, rice, or sauces. You should use half the amount of Cardamom in place of Saffron due to its strong aroma. Cardamom adds a little sweet and delicious flavor to the dishes/recipes.
5. Sweet Paprika:
Sweet Paprika is another spice that is also known as an excellent Saffron replacement. It is affordable and easy to find at any grocery store. Paprika has a rich red color and has a sweet & a little bit bitter taste. Paprika works well to dye a recipe if you know how much amount you need to use in your recipe/dish. You just need to take 1/2 teaspoon of Paprika in place of 1 teaspoon of Saffron. Any kind of Paprika can dye your dish/recipe just the way you want to.
6. Cumin:
Cumin is a spice that works well with some recipes/dishes. The taste is more bitter and earthy than the Saffron. It is used in making soup, rice, sauce, and meat dishes. Cumin is easily available at grocery stores. You can take 2/3 teaspoon of Cumin in place of 1 teaspoon of Saffron. You can also mix some Turmeric and Paprika to get the extreme flavor of Saffron.
7. Marigold Flower:
Marigold Flower has yellow color leaves that’s what makes it a good Saffron thread substitute. Marigold is native to America and belongs to the sunflower family. Its petals give that yellow color similar to Saffron. You can buy it from your nearest grocery store Otherwise, if you have already cultivated Marigolds in your garden you can use them directly, but using dried marigolds give the perfect yellow color to the recipe.
8. Curry Powder:
Curry Powder is a primary ingredient in many dishes/recipes. It is a blend of different types of curry that have Turmeric which is the best Saffron alternative. Curry Powder adds more flavor to the recipe. It can flavor any type of food such as sauces, stir-fries, soups, and stews. This Saffron replacement is mostly used in Indian cuisines.
9. Calendula:
Calendula is a plant that has approx 20 different species. You can buy this plant from your nearby grocery store or plant store. You just need to dry its petals before using them in your recipe/dish. When the petals become dry, just smash them into a powder and use it in your recipe/dish. It would not give the same flavor as the Saffron, but the same yellow color. Calendula won’t disappoint you when you use it in the same amount as you would Saffron.
10. Food Color:
If you don’t have the above-mentioned substitute in your kitchen, you can use the food color to get a similar yellow color to the Saffron. You just need to add two drops of yellow and one drop of red color to get the exact orange color of Saffron to your recipe/dish.
11. Saffron Essence:
If you want the same earthy flavor with the same orange color similar to the Saffron, you can use organic Saffron Essence. The Essence might be expensive but not expensive as Saffron.
FAQ:-
What is the flavor of Saffron?
Saffron has a sweet floral taste. The flavor is complex nuanced and earthy. Otherwise, Saffron that has a bitter, metallic, or plastic-like taste is a kind of cheap quality Saffron that should be ignored and not be used.
Which Saffron is best in the world?
Kashmiri Saffron is the best in the world. It is popular due to its exotic aroma and flavor in culinary preparations. Kashmiri Saffron has a different dark maroonish-purple hue. While Persian Saffron has 70% of the whole world's population. Still, Kashmiri Saffron is the finest in terms of quality.
Why is Spanish Saffron is so cheap?
The cheap price of Spanish Saffron depends on its supply which is lower than its Persian counterpart. Spain also regulated the exporting limit of this saffron.
How do I know my Saffron is pure?
Here, we are going to tell you how would you know that your Saffron is pure. Smell: Saffron smell is sweet that reminds me of Paella. I find both Sweet and husky. Appearance: Saffron threads are trumpet-shaped. Every thread bulge at one end. If it is not, then it's fake. Saffron can turn your finger yellow/orange when rubbing between your fingers. Taste: Saffron tastes sweet and earthy. If it tastes slightly bitter, metallic, or plastic-like, then it is a kind of cheap quality Saffron. Time for Color Release in Water: Put some threads of Saffron in a bowl of lukewarm water and wait till 15 mins. It will turn your water into yellow color. The color change can take up to an hour. If the water changes color immediately or turns red or does not change color, or if the threads lose their color, that thread is not a Saffron.
Now, you know the best Saffron 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. 🙂
