Spice Conversions
Additional information courtesy of The Cook's Thesaurus
Spice
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Conversion
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Substitute
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Allspice, Whole
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1 ounce = 4 Tbsp.
5 whole berries yield 1 tsp ground
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equal parts cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, all ground or, equal parts cinnamon and cloves, all ground or, equal parts cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper, all ground
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Allspice, Ground
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Angelica
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lovage (This also tastes like celery, and the stems can be candied like angelica.) or tarragon
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Anise, Ground
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1 ounce =4 tbsp.
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fennel seed (This has a milder flavor and is sweeter than anise.) , or, star anise (stronger flavor; 1 crushed star anise = 1/2 tsp crushed anise seed) or caraway seed or tarragon
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Apple Pie Spice
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1 tsp = 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cardamom, and 1/8 tsp ground allspice
To make your own: 4 parts cinnamon + 2 parts nutmeg + 1 part cardamom, all ground
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Basil Leaves
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1 ounce = 8 Tbsp.
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oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning, tarragon, summer savory, or equal parts parsley and celery leaves
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Bay Leaf, Whole
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1 fresh = 2 Dry
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¼ tsp. dried thyme or oregano
1 Dry = ¼ tsp. crushed 1 Fresh = ½ tsp. crushd |
Bay Leaf, Ground
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1 ounce = 5 Tbsp
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Borage
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spinach, escarole or burnet
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Bouquet Garni
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To make your own: Tie together with a string or wrap securely in cheesecloth: 4 sprigs fresh parsley or chervil, 1 sprig fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Variations if you're using cheesecloth: Add one or more of the following: orange peel, cloves, peppercorns, marjoram, fennel leaves, celery leaves
Substitutes: equal parts parsley, thyme, and crushed bay leaf OR equal parts chervil, thyme, and crushed bay leaf OR equal parts basil, marjoram, and summer savory | |
British Pudding Spices
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To make your own: Grind together 1 small cinnamon stick and 1 tbsp each cloves, mace, ground nutmeg, coriander seeds, and allspice berries
Substitutes: pumpkin pie spice, allspice | |
Caraway Seed
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1 ounce =3 tbsp.
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Dill seed (milder), anise seed or cumin seed
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Caraway, Ground
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1 ounce = 5 tbs
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Cardamom,Ground
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1 ounce = 5 tbsp
Approximately 12 pods, dehusked = 1 tsp ground cardamom
One pod yields 1/6 tsp cardamom.
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equal parts ground nutmeg and cinnamon, or equal parts ground cloves and cinnamon , or, nutmeg or cinnamon
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Celery Seed
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celery (One tsp = 2 tbsps minced celery tops), dill seed or celery salt (reduce the salt elsewhere in the recipe)
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Chervil
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parsley + tarragon, or fennel leaves + parsley, fines herbs or dill
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Chives
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Green onion tops
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Cinnamon, Whole
(preferably Ceylon Cinnamon) |
1 3” stick = ½ tsp. Ground
Most of the cinnamon that's sold in America is cassia, which is cheaper and more bitter than the choice Ceylon cinnamon
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1/2 tsp cinnamon (creates different flavor profile) = 1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground allspice, or ¼ to ½ tsp. Nutmeg or, equal amounts pumpkin pie spice
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Cinnamon, Ground
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1 ounce = 4 tbsp.
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Cloves, Whole
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3 whole = ¼ tsp. ground
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can substitute equal amounts of allspice
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Cloves, Ground
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Coriander Seed
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1 ounce. = 5 Tbs.
1 tsp coriander seeds = 1 1 /4 tsp ground coriander
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equal amounts cumin, caraway, or garam masala
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Coriander Ground
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1 ounce. = 5 Tbs.
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Cubeb, Whole
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
1 tsp. Whole = ~1 ½ tsp. ground
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equal parts allspice and black pepper, or quatre epices or schezuan peppercorns
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Cumin Ground
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1 oz. = 4 tbsps ground = 4 1/2 tbsps whole seed.
1 tsp. cumin seeds = 1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
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half amount the recipe calls for of caraway, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, curry or taco seasoning
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Curry Powder
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To make your own: Combine equal parts ground coriander, ground cumin, ground pepper, turmeric, and ground ginger or 4 parts ground coriander + 2 parts ground cumin + 2 parts ground tumeric + 1 part ground ginger
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Dill Seed
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dill leaves, caraway seed or celery seed
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Dill, fresh
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tarragon (especially in sauces that accompany fish or eggs), fennel leaves (as a garnish; looks very similar)
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Fennel Seed Whole
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
1 tsp fennel seeds = 1 1/4 tsp ground fennel
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equal amounts of anise, cumin, caraway or dill
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Fennel Seed Ground
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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Five Spice Powder
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To make your own: Combine equal parts Szechwan (or black) pepper, star anise (or anise), cinnamon, cloves, and fennel, all ground
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Galingale
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1 ½ tsp. Powder is equal to 1 tbsp. chopped fresh
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equal amounts of ginger with a pinch of cinnamon added
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Garam Masala
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To make your own: 2 parts ground cardamom + 5 parts ground coriander + 4 parts ground cumin + 2 parts ground black pepper + 1 part ground cloves + 1 part ground cinnamon + 1 part ground nutmeg
Substitutes: equals parts cumin, pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, all ground OR curry powder (spicier, different flavor)
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Garlic
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A head or bulb of garlic usually contains about 10 cloves. 1 clove = 1 tsp chopped garlic = 1/2 tsp minced garlic = 1/8 tsp garlic powder = 1/2 tsp garlic flakes = 1/4 tsp granulated garlic = 1/2 tsp garlic juice
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can substitute onion, shallot or garlic chives
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Garlic Powder
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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Garlic Granulated
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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Gelatin
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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Ginger Ground
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
1 tbsp fresh = ¼ tsp ground
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crystallized ginger (Substitute 1/2 cup minced crystallized ginger for every 1 tsp ground ginger called for in recipe. Rinse sugar off ginger first. This is an excellent substitution in many baked goods.), ginger root (Substitute 2 tbsps grated ginger root for every tsp ground ginger called for in recipe. For best results, substitute only half the ground ginger in recipe with fresh ginger.), cardamom, allspice, cinnamon , mace or nutmeg
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Grains of Paradise
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cardamom, black peppercorns
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Herbes de Provence
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To make your own: Combine four parts thyme plus four parts summer savory, two parts lavender, and one part rosemary.
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Hyssop
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sage
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Long Pepper
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black pepper (milder) or crushed red pepper
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Lovage
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equal parts parsley and celery leaves, parsley or chervil
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Mace
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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nutmeg (sweeter and milder than mace) , allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon or ginger
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Marjoram Whole
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1 ounce. = 8 Tbs.
1 tbsp. fresh = 1 tsp. dried
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oregano (This is very similar, but not as sweet and mild as marjoram. Substitute two parts of oregano for three parts of marjoram.) or thyme or sage or basil or summer savory
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Marjoram Powdered
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1 ounce. = 8 Tbs.
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Mastic
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Mint
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fresh parsley + pinch of dried mint , or basil
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Mustard Seed Whole
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
1 tsp mustard seeds = 1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
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wasabi powder, or horseradish
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Mustard Seed Ground
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Nutmeg Ground
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs..
1/2 nutmeg = 1 tsp ground nutmeg
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mace, allspice, cinnamon, ginger
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Onion Powder
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
5 medium onions = 1 pound = 2 cups chopped = 3 cups sliced
1 small onion = 1/3 cup = 1 tsp onion powder = 1 tbsp dried onion flakes
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white bulbs of leeks, shallots, green onions
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Onion Salt
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1 ounce. = 2 Tbs.
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Oregano Leaf
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1 ounce. = 9 Tbs.
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marjoram (This is very similar, but milder and sweeter. Substitute two parts of oregano for three parts of marjoram.) or thyme or basil or summer savory
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Paprika Ground
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Parsley
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chervil or celery tops or cilantro
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Pepper Coarse
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Pepper Black
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
1 tsp. peppercorns = 1 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
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Pepper White
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Pepper Whole
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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coriander seeds
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Pepper Red Leaf
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1 ounce. = 5 Tbs.
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Pepper Cayenne
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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Pickling Spice
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1 ounce. = 3 Tbs.
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To make your own: Combine 1/4 C each mustard seeds, dill seeds, and coriander seeds, 2 tbsps each crushed chili peppers and bay leaves, and 1 tbsp each celery seeds and white peppercorns.
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Pumpkin Pie Spice
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To make your own: Combine 4 parts cinnamon + 2 parts ginger + 1 part allspice + 1 part nutmeg, all ground OR equal parts cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace, and cloves, all ground
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Quatre Epices
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To make your own: Combine 1 part ground nutmeg + 1 part ground ginger + 1 part ground cloves + 2 parts ground white pepper
Substitutes: Chinese five-spice powder (especially in pates) OR nutmeg
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Ras Al Hanout
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To make your own: Grind together 4 tsps each cumin seed and ground ginger, 5 tsps coriander seeds, 2 tbsps each black peppercorns and ground cinnamon, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 16 whole cloves, and 20 allspice berries
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Rosemary
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sage or savory or thyme
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Saffron
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1 tsp threads = 1/8 tsp powder
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turmeric (for color, not flavor; use 4 times as much), safflower (use 8 times as much; less expensive and imparts similar color, but taste is decidedly inferior), marigold blossoms (for color, not flavor; use twice as much), annatto seeds (Steep 1 tsp annatto seeds in 1/4 cup of boiling water for 30 minutes, discard seeds. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup.) or red and yellow food coloring
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Sage
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1 ounce. = 8 Tbs.
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poultry seasoning or rosemary or thyme
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Saunders/Red Sandalwood
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Seasoned Salt
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To make your own: Combine 1 C salt, 2 1/2 tsps paprika, 2 tsps dry mustard, 1 1/2 tsps dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder
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Sugar Brown
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1 ounce. = 1-1/2 Tbs.
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Sugar
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1 ounce. = 1-1/2 Tbs.
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Sumac
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lemon zest + salt or (in salads) lemon juice or (in salads) vinegar
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Tarragon
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dill or basil or marjoram or fennel seed or anise seed or angelica
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Thyme
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1 ounce. = 4 Tbs.
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omit from recipe or herbes de Provence (This blend contains thyme.) or poultry seasoning (This blend contains thyme.) or Italian seasoning (This blend contains thyme.) or savory or marjoram or oregano
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Turmeric
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turmeric (1 piece fresh turmeric = 1 tsp ground turmeric) or mustard powder or mustard powder + pinch of saffron
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