No Saffron At Hand? Here Are 6 Alternatives You Can Use 

By Bornika Das

January 6, 2024

Image Credit:  Pexels

It won’t be a surprise if the pantry does not have saffron for the dishes that calls for it. It is the most expensive spice in the world. Although, it is relatively hard to replace saffron, if the situation arises, there are alternatives to it. Take a look at some of them: 

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Paprika + Tumeric

Blending these spices together, the end product is much like the exquisite saffron in looks. The colour and flavour both highly resemble that of saffron.

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Turmeric 

Turmeric works as a wonderful substitute for saffron in your dishes. It lends them the colour along with some earthly notes. 

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Safflower 

Historically, the flowers of this herbaceous plant were once used as a saffron alternative by the Spanish colonies. Since it lacks any flavour, it can used to replicate saffron’s colour.

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Sweet Paprika

It is a great ingredient to substitute saffron. Sweet paprika packs a great sweet flavour along with some savoury notes and it is also on the affordable side of things. However, it won’t deliver the same colour.

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Cardamom 

It is known for its irresistible aroma that it adds to several dishes which could range from rice recipes to beverages. It exudes unique savoury and sweet notes that can be used to replace saffron.

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Elderberry Blossom

Owing to its delicate and slightly sweet flavour, it can serve as a unique alternative to saffron. It imparts floral notes to the dishes.

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