The Best Lavender Substitutes
People usually know lavender flowers for their two main features: their smell and color.
What do you do when a recipe calls for lavender, but you don’t have it in the kitchen? What makes a good lavender substitute?
We got you covered! You can find the best alternatives for lavender below.
What Is Lavender?
Lavender is a flowering plant belonging to the mint family that is easily identified by the sweet floral scent. The word lavender comes from the Latin root “lavare,” which means “to wash.”
English lavender or Lavandula angustifolia is the most common type of lavender used in the kitchen.
6 Ideas For Lavender Substitutes
If you’re making a recipe that needs lavender but don’t have it at hand, have a look at the alternatives below.
You can create the same flavor and texture by choosing the right one.
1. Dry Lavender
Dry lavender can be simpler to find, making it incredible to add this floral flavor to your recipe. It works best in prepared bread, treats, and marinades.
Usage: The flavor is less intense than the fresh version, so a 3:2 proportion should be used. For example, use 1.5 teaspoons of dry lavender to replace every teaspoon of fresh one your recipe calls for.
2. Parfait d’Amour
Parfait d’Amour is a liquor made with a Curaçao base, vanilla, and blossom petals.
This alcohol has the sweet and floral notes you would anticipate from lavender buds, making it ideal for a portion of the spice’s pastry applications.
In addition, it’s pricier than the other different alternatives on our list, yet it is an ideal choice while baking. Parfait d’Amour can be utilized for cakes, custards, and other sweet inventions.
Usage: Only a couple of drops will give any recipe a strong floral flavor.
3. Rosemary
Lavender is an individual from the mint family and is strongly connected with rosemary. Thus, rosemary can bring a familiar fragrance like lavender.
With rosemary, the flavor is suggestive of sweet mint and pine needles with notes of tea and ginger.
These Mediterranean herbs can easily be bought at most supermarkets and grocery stores around you.
Rosemary is best utilized as a lavender substitute in flavorful dishes and will combine well with the vast majority of different spices and herbs.
You should consider the portions when using rosemary as a replacement.
Usage: Because the rosemary is more intense, replacing it with a 1:2 ratio is recommended.
4. Lemon Thyme
Lemon thyme leaves produce a solid lemony, and fresh fragrance alongside notes of thyme.
It brings a solid lemon flavor to dishes that require it, making the spice a fantastic substitute for lavender.
Lemon thyme offers an outstanding citrus note that works in different recipes. It is easier to find in most supermarkets than lavender extract.
Usage: Use it in meat marinades or bread. Dry lemon thyme should be subbed at a 3:2 proportion for the best outcomes.
5. Mint
Mint is the best substitute for lavender. The herb is comparable to fresh lavender and similarly flexible because it suits a range of savory and sweet dishes.
Usage: You should use this herb with the same amount of lavender that the recipes call for to create the same delicious fragrance.
6. Herbes de Provence
Herbes de Provence is a mix of spices that are normal in the Provence area of France.
Lavender is a critical additive in this herb blend; other variable additives are thyme, rosemary, tarragon, basil, appetizing, marjoram, cove leaf, and oregano.
Usage: Use it in a similar measure of lavender expected in your formula.
FAQs
Is Lavender Poisonous To Eat?
Not all lavender should be used in cooking. The majority are safe to consume.
The stem, bud, and leaf of lavender are great for cooking. The leaves, flowers, can be used fresh, and the stems and buds can be used dried.
Culinary lavender is normally developed from Lavandula angustifolia plants (generally known as English or ‘valid’ lavender) and has significantly less oil than the fragrant flower used in scents or cleansers.
However, if you eat a lot of this herb, it might make you feel tired and hungry.
