Spice substitutions for UK and EU pantries
A substitution is a workaround. It will not fool a Hyderabadi grandmother, but it will get dinner on the table.
Do not swap these 1:1
Cumin is not caraway. Green cardamom is not black cardamom. Turmeric is not saffron. Mustard seed is not nigella. Those pairs have their own comparison pages for a reason.
Workable kitchen swaps
No Kashmiri chilli: mix a little extra paprika-style colour with a pinch of hotter chilli — or buy Kashmiri from this shop. No kasuri methi: skip it; dried oregano is not methi. No tejpatta: a small cassia shard is closer than a Mediterranean bay leaf. No amchur: a squeeze of lemon at the end, knowing it is brighter and less mango.
No garam masala: a pinch each of cumin, coriander, cardamom and clove is closer than curry powder. Curry powder is a different British-Indian blend.
Allergens and labels
Mustard, sesame and celery appear in some Indian spice lists. Read the pack. Substitutions do not change allergen law. See food information and allergen pages before you sell or serve commercially.
