Looking for substitutes for cardamom? Cardamom has a warm, bitter, slightly lemon flavor with hints of mint and smoke. This spice can be used in cakes, coffee, fruit dishes, and meat dishes and is a common ingredient in Garam Masala.
You might not always have cardamom in your spice cabinet. It is a fairly expensive spice because it needs to be harvested by hand. In this labor-intensive handpicking process each cardamom pod must be picked when it is about ¾ ripe so time and care are needed to yield this spice. All this labor, care and timing are more costly than other traditional spices that can be harvested by more automated means.
Here are some suggested substitutes for Cardamom
Cardamom has a unique flavor so it is best to combine a few common spices to achieve the desired flavor.
Substitute #1
Mix equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg
Substitute #2
Mix equal parts cinnamon and cloves
Substitute #3
Mix equal parts cinnamon and ginger
Substitute #4
Mix ½ teaspoon cumin with one teaspoon of coriander
Substitute #5
Use the same amount of allspice in place of cardamom
None of these substitutes will provide the exact same taste, but you will be able to complete your dish without sacrificing the general flavor of cardamom.
Substitutes will work in a pinch but nothing beats the true, unique flavor of cardamom. MySpicer carries both ground cardamom and whole cardamom in quantities ranging from 2 ounces to 25 pounds.
