You just got to the grocery store, and they are all out of fresh basil. Now what? Fortunately, this post is all about the best substitutes for basil, starting with dried basil. Some leafy greens are merely an acceptable substitute, while others make for a great alternative to basil!
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Table of Contents
About Basil
The basil plant originates from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and Central Africa. It’s estimated that there are anywhere from 50 to 150 different varieties of basil, including holy basil, cinnamon basil, lime basil, Italian basil, lemon basil, and Thai basil. However, the leafy green you are probably most often familiar with is sweet basil.
This popular herb is a member of the mint family. The flavor profiles of sweet basil offer a fresh, concentrated flavor to dishes with a slightly peppery flavor, anise, and mint taste.
Nutrition
Basil is a good source of vitamin K. It also contains smaller amounts of manganese, iron, calcium, and vitamin A.
An animal study found that basil essential oil can have an antidepressant effect.
Dried Vs. Fresh
Always use fresh basil, as the taste is incredible. However, if you are looking for a substitute for basil leaves in a dish, dried basil is the best substitute. It’s always good to have dried herbs on hand for moments when you want to emulate the flavor of the fresh herb. Then, you can always use another herb or leaf to garnish.
Use about one-third of the amount when using dried basil instead of the fresh herb.
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Quick Guide
Here’s your cheat sheet for substituting basil in a pinch!
- Must-try alternatives for basil in Southeast Asian cuisine: Pick cilantro or fresh Thai basil, both of which are commonly used in many Southeast Asian dishes.
- Best basil substitute in pesto: Try parsley or oregano to keep some of that herby vibe that comes from pesto.
- Easy basil alternative in Italian dishes: Go with oregano or Italian seasoning to keep up the flavors of Italy.
- Go-to sub in salads: You can count on parsley or tarragon for your basil replacement.
- Best substitute for basil in Greek recipes: Oregano has you covered!
A good rule of thumb is to use a 3:1 ratio. Three parts fresh basil is roughly equivalent to one part dried basil.
25 Best Basil Substitutes
Now, without further ado, these are the best herbs you can use to fill in for basil!
- Fresh Basil: When your recipe requires dried basil, the next best thing is the fresh variety. Add it to the end of your cooking time to preserve the best flavors.
- Dried Basil: Just as fresh basil can be used for dried basil, the same is true if your recipe calls for fresh basil – just use the dried basil from your spice rack.
- Fresh Thai Basil: Fresh Thai basil is a bit more pungent and anise-like than fresh basil. It’s commonly used in – you guessed it – Southeast Asian cuisine though it will change the flavors a bit.
- Purple Basil: Purple basil is another basil you might just catch at the supermarket.
- Fresh Oregano: If you’re making Italian cuisine, fresh oregano is a great option to replace your fresh basil.
- Dried Oregano: Or you can raid your spice rack and choose dried oregano, which will work just fine when cooking it into soups and such. Always remember that dried herbs will be more concentrated in flavor, so adjust your measurements! (Use this helpful oregano substitutions guide if you need it.)
- Fresh Tarragon: Basil is similar to tarragon in that it is subtly sweet though its peppery notes make it different. Still, tarragon can fill in by adding that subtle depth of sweet flavor.
- Dried Tarragon: Yes, you can also try dried tarragon to replace fresh or dried basil. (Here is a helpful guide for best tarragon substitutes!)
- Fresh Mint: Mint’s color and texture can help you out, but it will provide minty hints in your dish. This may not be a bad thing for certain dishes from Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine, but it may not work for everything.
- Dried Mint: If you don’t have fresh mint and a minty flavor will complement your recipe, use the dried variety.
- Fresh Cilantro: I know that people either love or hate cilantro, so if you hate it, skip to the next option. If you love it, use cilantro to replace basil in your Asian dishes.
- Dried Coriander: With the same taste as cilantro, you can also use this dried variety if you like cilantro.
- Herbs de Province: Since Herbs de Province contains basil, it is a lovely option for your Italian recipes.
- Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning also has basil, and it’s something just about everyone has in their spice rack.
- Fresh Savory: Savory is part of the mint family though it’s more peppery rather than minty. It can be a nice swap for your basil.
- Dried Savory: Fresh savory isn’t always easy to find, but you may have some in your pantry that you can use.
- Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley’s slightly bitter profile may just work in your recipe when you need basil. It will provide more sharpness rather than sweetness, though.
- Dried Parsley: With dried parsley, you can also achieve a replacement for basil, though be careful as it won’t give you the same thrill as basil. (Here is my guide for parsley substitutions if you need it!)
- Fresh Chervil: Chervil is more similar to dill in texture, though the taste will have a sweetness that can stand in for basil in your meal.
- Dried Chervil: Is fried chervil in your stash of spices? You can use it in a pinch!
- Fresh Marjoram: If you’re looking to finish a dish with basil but have none, fresh marjoram will work great!
- Dried Marjoram: You can also rely on dried marjoram.
- Carrot Tops: Believe it or not, you can use those carrot tops to make pesto. Once everything is blended together, it will be similar in flavor.
- Celery Leaf: The bitter taste of celery leaves will not shine through in things like pesto. This is a good option when your recipe calls for basil to be mixed with additional ingredients.
- Spinach: Ok, so it’s not an herb and won’t replicate the flavor of basil, but if you need a green ingredient, spinach is the hero of the day!
FAQ
One of the most similar herbs to basil is oregano. It fits the profile well, especially for Italian and Mediterranean dishes. If you’re trying to make a Southeast Asian recipe that requires basil, choose Thai basil.
To replicate the color, use whatever leafy greens you have, such as spinach or arugula. You can get the flavors right by choosing other herbs – cilantro, mint, and chervil. Carrot top pesto is also fairly popular!
If you don’t have fresh basil, don’t despair. This comprehensive list has a variety of options. They won’t work for everything, but if you have a spice rack full of herbs, many of them can help you out.
Yes, you can, though keep in mind that you’ll lose the sweet notes that basil provides. It may not be noticeable in certain recipes, though!
Final Words
There is no ‘perfect’ basil substitute. However, oregano is probably the most universally used herb in recipes that call for basil. Each herb mentioned above will work well in recipes for different reasons. Keep doing a taste test as you add in your herb substitute, and do a quick sniff of the herb to check if the flavor will go well with the recipe you are making. And even if you are confident the herb will work as a basil substitute, it doesn’t hurt to take a quick spoonful of the dish for good measure!
Reference
Ali, S. S., Abd El Wahab, M. G., Ayuob, N. N., & Suliaman, M. (2017). The antidepressant-like effect of Ocimum basilicum in an animal model of depression. Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission, 92(6), 390–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/10520295.2017.1323276
I really enjoyed this post. Obviously, nothing tastes exactly like basil, but you shared some great flavorful ideas. I like to do it to freeze my basil if I haven’t used it for a few days. This way, it won’t go to waste.