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A guide to substituting herbs

Out of an ingredient? Try swapping it for one these.
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Although each herb has its own distinctive flavour, there’s no culinary rule that says you can’t substitute one herb in place of another.

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Try something new to spice up your cooking or use as an emergency substitution.

Herb Substitute Guide

For any herb, you can substitute 1 teaspoon dried herb for 1 tablespoon fresh herb.

Basil: oregano or thyme

Bay leaf: For 1 bay leaf, substitute 1/4 teaspoon crushed bay leaf or 1/4 teaspoon thyme.

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Chervil: tarragon or parsley

Chives: green onion, onion, or leek

Cilantro: parsley

Dill (weed or seed): Use an equal amount of tarragon.

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Fennel: anise seed

Italian seasoning: basil, oregano, or rosemary

Marjoram: basil, thyme, or savory

Mint: basil, marjoram, or rosemary

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Oregano: thyme or basil

Parsley: chervil or cilantro

Rosemary: thyme, tarragon, or savory

Sage: poultry seasoning, savory, marjoram, or rosemary

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Savory: thyme, marjoram, or sage

Tarragon: chervil, dash fennel seed, or dash anise seed

Thyme: basil, marjoram, oregano, or savory

Is your ingredient missing from the list? Hop over to our spice substitutes page and check for your substitution there.

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Basic Herb Information

Selecting. Fresh herbs add bold flavour to recipes, whether you grow them in your own garden or pick them up at the grocery store. Choose herbs that have fresh-looking leaves without brown spots. Fresh herbs are not long-lasting, so only buy or pick them as you need to.

Storing. To store fresh herbs, cut 1/2 inch off the stems. Stand stem ends in a small jar or glass with some water. Loosely cover any leaves with a small plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. (Note: Don’t refrigerate basil — it may blacken.) Discard wilted leaves as they appear.

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