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Cardamom is hard to replace, but there are a few options if you don’t have this spice on hand! Here’s the best substitute for cardamom.

Cardamom substitute
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Making a recipe that calls for cardamom and don’t have it? Cardamom is a spice made from seed pods with a distinctly floral flavor. You can buy cardamom whole or ground, and use it in savory or sweet dishes. You’ll find it in many major world cuisines, including Indian, Arabic and Middle Eastern.

Cardamom is so unique that if at all possible, go to the store and buy yourself some cardamom! It’s especially important if you’re making chai spices: it’s absolutely essential for a chai latte or chai cookies. But if you’re in the middle of a recipe with no time to shop, we get it. Here are the best cardamom substitutes.

Best cardamom substitute

These cardamom substitutes work in savory and sweet dishes alike. Again, we highly recommend purchasing cardamom if at all possible: it’s a truly unique spice that’s worth finding!

1. Cinnamon + allspice.

The best cardamom substitute? Mix equal parts cinnamon and allspice. So 1 teaspoon cardamom = ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon allspice. It doesn’t have the complexity or uniqueness of cardamom, but it will do the trick in a pinch. This one works because allspice has some of the floral nuance of cardamom.

2. Cinnamon + nutmeg.

Another good cardamom substitute? Cinnamon and nutmeg. Same ideas above: 1 teaspoon cardamom = ½ teaspoon cinnamon plus ½ teaspoon nutmeg. Nutmeg also has floral notes, which makes this a decent substitute.

3. Cinnamon + ginger.

Another cardamom substitute? Cinnamon and ginger. This one has less complexity but ginger brings in a bit of the spicy nuance of cardamom. 1 teaspoon cardamom = ½ teaspoon cinnamon plus ½ teaspoon ginger.

Here are some of our favorite recipes featuring cardamom:

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Alex & Sonja

Hi there! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of two cookbooks, busy parents, and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share simple, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking. We now offer thousands of original recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning ideas—all written and photographed by the two of us (and tested on our kids!).

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2 Comments

  1. Richard GIAM says:

    Thanks for the heads up on a Cardamom substitute.

    Reply
  2. BZ Smith says:

    You saved my butt! I was deep into making Persian Rose Love Cakes that need cardamom when I discovered that I was OUT of that wonderful ingredient! Oh, No! Your tips really helped. I did manage to find a few cardamom pods in some Masala Chai loose tea. I picked them out, ground them, and then rounded out the rest with cinnamon & fresh nutmeg, as per your suggestion. It worked perfectly!
    Thank you. I’ll be back to learn more from you two.

    Reply