Rice vinegar is a mild, slightly sweet vinegar made from fermented rice. It has a light acidity that helps balance flavors and is a common ingredient in Asian cuisine for sushi rice, stir-fries, marinades, dressings, and dipping sauces. If you don’t have rice vinegar on hand, several alternatives can provide a similar level of acidity …
Ingredient Substitutes
If you need a particular ingredient and need the best substitute, then this is the place. Each substitute is given from my experience as a professional chef.
Heavy cream is also known as heavy whipping cream and is a rich dairy product with a fat content of 36–40%. It has a smooth, thick texture and a slightly sweet, neutral flavor and is a popular ingredient in both cooking and baking. If you need a substitute for heavy cream due to availability, dietary …
Dijon mustard has a smooth texture and a slightly spicy, tangy flavor. It comes from Dijon, France, and contains brown or black mustard seeds, white wine or wine vinegar, and seasonings. It’s commonly used in salad dressings, marinades, sauces, and sandwiches. If you don’t have Dijon mustard on hand or need an alternative due to …
Rice flour is a versatile, gluten-free flour made from finely milled rice. It has a light texture and neutral flavor, making it useful in baking, thickening sauces, and frying. Rice flour is commonly found in gluten-free recipes and Asian cooking, where it’s used in noodles, tempura batter, and rice cakes. If you need a substitute …
Almond flour serves as a popular gluten-free and grain-free alternative to wheat flour and is commonly used in baking and cooking. It comes from finely ground blanched almonds and has a mild nutty flavor, a soft texture, and a high-fat content that helps keep baked goods moist. If you need a substitute for almond flour …
Feta cheese is a tangy, salty cheese traditionally made from sheep’s milk or a mix of sheep’s and goat’s milk. Its crumbly texture and distinct flavor make it a popular ingredient in salads, dips, pastries, and savory dishes. If you’re out of feta cheese or need a substitute due to dietary preferences or availability, here …
Buttermilk is a tangy, slightly thick liquid traditionally made as a byproduct of churning butter. Modern buttermilk is cultured, meaning it’s made by fermenting milk with lactic acid bacteria. This gives it its signature tangy flavor and acidity, which helps activate leavening agents like baking soda in baked goods and tenderize proteins in marinades. If …