• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
  • RESOURCES
    • How to Start a Food Blog

Chefjar logo

Home / COOKING BASICS

Turmeric Substitutes

Here are 14 turmeric substitutes. Turmeric is a very fragrant, yellow spice that is used in curries and a lot of Middle Eastern cuisine. It goes great with lemony flavors and often lends its deep yellow color to whatever it’s cooked with.

The 14 Best Turmeric Alternatives

If you’ve run out of turmeric, or you simply don’t keep it in your spice rack, you might be looking for a quick and easy alternative for tonight’s recipe.

As a general rule, if your turmeric is only a small amount - say, less than half a teaspoon - you can probably omit it from the recipe entirely. If you’re looking to make yourself a wonderful, flavorful curry, you’ll want turmeric, or an optimal substitute, to get cracking.

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric, like ginger, is a rhizome. It’s a fleshy, root-like ingredient native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Most people, accordingly, associate its flavor with the cuisines of these regions. It’s usually ground into a fine golden powder for culinary use. Raw turmeric looks a bit like a cross between ginger and sweet potato.

❗ Be wary: turmeric’s strong yellow color will stain just about anything it touches, from your fingertips to your countertop. Keep it away from your favorite clothes, aprons, or wooden spoons.

Fresh Turmeric vs Ground Turmeric

Fresh turmeric is much milder than ground turmeric. The process of producing the powder requires dehydration of the root, removing all its water content, and concentrating the flavor of the solid that remains.

If you’re cooking with fresh turmeric, you might want to consider quadrupling the amount your recipe calls for to get the big, bold flavor you want.

Fresh turmeric looks a bit like ginger with vibrant orange on the inside. Ground turmeric is a characteristically yellow powder. It’s harder to find fresh turmeric at supermarkets outside of Asia and southeast Asian communities. Fresh turmeric also doesn’t have as long of a shelf life as the ground powdered stuff. Ground turmeric will keep for up to two years in an airtight container away from sunlight, while fresh turmeric will keep for about two weeks in the fridge.

Fresh turmeric can have a gritty texture, while powdered turmeric typically offers a smoother texture. Fresh turmeric is better for raw recipes like smoothies, juices, and pickles. Ground turmeric, on the other hand, is best for cooking curries, stews, and rice recipes.

Turmeric Substitutes for General Cooking

The easiest substitute is between different types of turmeric. You can swap fresh turmeric out for ground turmeric and vice versa if you so desire. You can use turmeric paste, too, if you like.

Otherwise, here are our picks for turmeric substitutes.

1. Dried or Fresh Turmeric

Check Current Price on Amazon

You can substitute dried for fresh turmeric and vice versa if you like. Generally speaking, ½ inch of raw turmeric equals about 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric. Remember that ground turmeric has a stronger flavor than fresh turmeric does.

2. Turmeric Paste

Check Current Price on Amazon

Our next best bet is turmeric paste. This is a very easy alternative to turmeric powder because it has a similar concentrated taste. It can be hard to find in grocery stores. Turmeric paste has a stronger flavor than fresh turmeric, but isn’t quite as potent as ground turmeric, so adjust your quantities accordingly when making this substitution.

3. Saffron

Check Current Price on Amazon

Saffron’s naturally bold coloration makes it an obvious alternative to turmeric. It’s a very expensive spice, and use less saffron than you would turmeric when substituting it. This way, your dish won’t become overly sweet.

4. Safflower

Check Current Price on Amazon

Safflower looks exactly like saffron, but it’s more affordable. It’s an Egyptian alternative to saffron with the same golden yellow color. You can use it in a recipe the same way you’d use saffron.

5. Paprika

Check Current Price on Amazon

Paprika, whether hot, sweet, or smoked, is a common pantry staple. You can use it as a decent flavor substitution for turmeric, and if you don’t love spice then sweet paprika is a nice option.

6. Annatto Seeds

Check Current Price on Amazon

Annatto seeds come from achiote seeds. Their nutty, peppery, sweet flavor isn’t exactly close to that of turmeric, but with their yellow color they will look very close. If you’re substituting annatto seeds for turmeric, use a 1:2 ratio of seeds in vegetable oil, and then add the infused oil to your recipe.

7. Madras Curry Powder

Check Current Price on Amazon

Madras powder is a mix of spices that typically includes turmeric powder, chili powder, cumin, and fenugreek. It will have a similar flavor to turmeric, but will give your curry a darker, deeper color, and a little bit of heat, too.

It’s a great substitution if you’re making Indian food, but for other cuisines you might want to steer clear of this aromatic, powerful spice mix. Generally, you should use slightly less madras powder than you would turmeric powder if you’re making this substitution.

8. Yellow Mustard Seeds

Check Current Price on Amazon

This will match the yellow color of turmeric, but not the flavor. Use mustard seeds, not yellow mustard, which is a condiment.

These seeds can be sweet and spicy, so be sure to use less than the recipe calls for.

9. Mace and Smoked Paprika

Check Current Price on Amazon

Mace and smoked paprika in combination can be a useful turmeric substitute. This can be a very spicy combo, so add to your recipe in small amounts.

10. Ginger Powder

Check Current Price on Amazon

Ginger powder’s dynamic, complex flavor can substitute for turmeric in raw food, but we’d advise not using it in cooking.

11. Galangal Powder

Check Current Price on Amazon

Galangal powder has a sharp, almost pine-like flavor. Despite this, it’s a decent substitute for turmeric if you’re cooking Indian or South Asian food. It won’t have the rich, yellow color of turmeric, but will provide plenty of flavorsome kick. Use a small amount based on your own preference.

12. Cumin Seeds

Check Current Price on Amazon

Cumin’s earthy flavor is a little stronger than turmeric. You could combine it with galangal for a savory recipe.

13. Garam Masala

Check Current Price on Amazon

Another substitute best suited to Indian and South Asian cuisines. It is a combination of cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper, and has plenty of flavor and spice. Reduce your volume considerably when using garam masala as your choice of substitutiton.

14. Dry Mustard/Ground Mustard Powder

Check Current Price on Amazon

For color and taste, this is a worthy alternative. However, you would be best to use a little less than the recipe asks for.

More Great Substitutes

The Best Halloumi Substitutes

Substitutes For Anchovies

Dark Soy Sauce Substitutes

Gochujang Substitutes

Substitutes For Sun Dried Tomatoes

Coconut Flour Substitutes

Substitutes For Mushrooms

Substitutes For Teff Flour

The Best Ponzu Sauce Substitutes

pinterest-chefjar

If you found this cooking resource helpful be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!

More COOKING BASICS

  • Fresh and Frozen Meat - Is There a Difference?
  • How to Melt Velveeta Cheese
  • How Many Cups in a Pint? (Easy Conversion Chart)
  • Ounces in a Quart

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

LOOKING FOR RECIPES? SEARCH HERE!

About Me

Hi, I am Tati and welcome to my online kitchen. A foodie, wife and mom of 2 adorable boys. Read More…

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube



Search Recipes

Footer

SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE RECIPES STRAIGHT INTO YOUR INBOX!

CONNECT WITH ME – CHEFJAR

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Privacy Policy
  • ABOUT ME
  • Recipe index

Copyright © 2023 · CHEFJAR