Vegetable bouillon works much like meat-based bouillon to impart hearty flavors into your dishes. But when you realize you’re all out while you’re about to cook dinner, you may not know what you can choose for your vegetable bouillon substitute. This list of the 17 best replacements for this ingredient can quickly help you find something suitable in a pinch!
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Table of Contents
What is vegetable bouillon?
Vegetable bouillon is just a plant-based flavoring that is created with vegetables, spices, and herbs. It provides a great way to add more flavor to all sorts of meals, from soups to stews or even pasta and rice dishes.
Is vegetable bouillon the same as veggie stock?
No, veggie stock is completely different from vegetable bouillon. Vegetable bouillon comes in a dehydrated and concentrated form, while vegetable stock is a liquid that has been imparted with the flavors of veggies that have been simmered in it.
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In case you are wondering, Edward & Son’s makes my favorite vegetable bouillon.
The List: 17 Best Vegetable Bouillon Substitutes
When you need vegetable bouillon but don’t have it, try these awesome substitutions to bring the flavor to your food!
- Vegetable Stock Cubes: If you have a package of vegetable stock cubes in your pantry, this is a great substitute. You’ll be able to keep up the intended flavor of your recipe.
- Homemade Bouillon Cubes: You could also make your own homemade bouillon cubes, though this may not be practical in the moment. You’ll need time to cook down the vegetables and make your bouillon cubes, but if you’ve already done all that, you can use them!
- Bouillon Powder: Bouillon powder is similar to bouillon cubes, so if you have this in your pantry, you can count on it to bring the flavor you need.
- Homemade Vegetable Bouillon Powder: You could also make your own homemade vegetable bouillon powder, though again, you’ll need to have this already ready if you’re looking for a vegetable bouillon substitute now.
- Vegetable Bouillon Paste: Vegetable bouillon paste is a popular ingredient that you may have found at the store along with other flavor pastes to dial up the taste in your food. If you have some on hand, it’s a terrific substitute though always give a taste and adjust the amount accordingly.
- Vegetable Broth (store-bought): I love making my own veggie broth from scratch, but sometimes, it’s handy to have some in the pantry. You will need more broth than you would bouillon, though, so be prepared to adjust as needed.
- Homemade Veggie Broth: And if you have homemade veggie broth ready to go, this is much preferred to the store-bought stuff. (If you are looking for a recipe this Vegetable Broth Recipe is perfect!)
- Herb Infusion: You can make an herb infusion that combines your desired flavors. Like making your own broth, bouillon, or paste, it will take some time, which may not be feasible when you need to get dinner on the table.
- Miso Paste: Can I just say that I love miso paste? It adds such great umami flavors to your dishes. One word of caution, though – it is highly concentrated and has fermented notes, so it may not be right for the dish you’re making.
- Marmite: If you know and love the yeast extract spread known as marmite, this is another thing you can use instead of vegetable bouillon. You’ll get umami flavors from this one, too, which makes it important to taste and adjust to your liking.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce can work in a pinch, though it will lack the full punch of flavors you need for your meal. Vegetable bouillon has deeply complex flavors that you’ll miss out on. If it’s all you have, then at least soy sauce will keep things from tasting bland.
- Liquid Aminos: Liquid aminos are a better choice than soy sauce for substituting vegetable bouillon. Keep in mind that it has a saltier flavor profile, which means you’ll need to adjust the amount in order to keep from making your food too salty.
- Nutritional Yeast: I love the umami flavor of nutritional yeast, though it may not be the exact match you need in your particular recipe. Consider adding additional herbs with it to round out the flavors.
- Mushroom Broth: If you love mushrooms, mushroom broth will work just as well as veggie broth or stock. It provides earthy and rich flavors, but if you have a mushroom hater at the table, they’re not going to like it.
- Powdered Mushrooms: When cooking soups and stews, dropping in some powdered mushrooms may be a great flavor booster that can fill in for vegetable bouillon. Again, I have to warn you that it will provide a mushroom flavor, which is great if you love mushrooms but not for anyone who doesn’t.
- Seaweed: If you have kelp or kombu, these are great choices for any Asian dishes you may be making. You can easily use these for your veggie bouillon substitute.
- Tomato Paste: Tomato paste is a great option, too, but it may not be right for Asian cuisine. It does impart a richness, though, and certain stews and soups will really shine when you add it.
FAQ
You can use store-bought or homemade vegetable broth, homemade bouillon powder, or bouillon paste. Depending on your taste, a little bit of onion or garlic powder could also add that extra zing.
Yes, you can use vegetable stock instead of bouillon. However, remember that bouillon can be more concentrated.
Better Than Bouillon is a brand of bouillon paste. It is an excellent way to infused your soup or stew with flavor.
Final Words
While having vegetable bouillon on hand when you need it is ideal, that may not always be the case. You may have forgotten that you used it all up the last time and didn’t buy more. Sure, you can make your own, but the convenience of having it ready to go is ideal, especially when you’ve had a busy day and just want to put a nutritious and delicious meal on your table. Hopefully, you’ll have at least one of these replacements in your kitchen right now and can easily find the right substitute for veggie bouillon in your recipe that boosts the best flavors!
I love the addition of nutritional yeast.
Awesome! Thanks for reading.