Ginger is a root vegetable belonging to the same family as turmeric and cardamom. You may find several varieties of it available. The most common type has thin, light brown skin and pale-yellow flesh.
Readymade substitutes for ginger
Ground ginger
Ginger paste
Grated ginger
Candied ginger
The best ginger substitutes
Here are 6 classic spices to act as ginger substitutes. You will surely find at least a few of them in your pantry!
Allspice
The allspice flavor is specifically a mix of pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Therefore, it is your best bet when looking for a ginger substitute.
nutmeg
People all across the world use nutmeg in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. It works well with meat, cheese, pasta, rice, mushrooms and even vegetables like broccoli.
mace
Although both nutmeg and mace come from the same tree, they taste quite different from each other. While nutmeg has a milder, sweeter flavor, mace is slightly spicier.
Cinnamon
Combine the spice with a dash of powdered pepper to get the perfect substitute for ginger. You can add it in your preparations of sauces and gravies for various meat, fish and seafood.
Galangal
Unlike mildly sweet ginger, galangal has a remarkably stronger flavor and leans more towards spicy than sweet. You can use this substitute in savory dishes that call for ginger.
Lemon and black pepper
The heat of the pepper, accompanied by the tanginess of lemon, will provide a near enough taste to ginger. Add a dash of sugar or cinnamon for that hint of gingery sweetness.
Each spice has its own unique taste and adds a different dimension. While it's next to impossible to replicate the exact flavor, most of these spices will alleviate that ‘missing factor’ of ginger.