bowl of honey with a wooden honey spoon

Surprising Substitutions

Ingredient swaps made simple!
1 October 2023

When you’re in the midst of whipping up a delicious recipe and realise you’re missing a key ingredient, it can be a real kitchen crisis! But fear not, there are some ingenious substitutions hiding in your pantry that can help minimise waste and keep your culinary creations on track. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Eggs for mashed banana: Whether you’re following a vegan diet or just ran out of eggs, mashed bananas can save the day. Approximately ¼ cup or 60g of mashed banana can replace one egg in recipes for pancakes, muffins, and cakes. The banana not only adds moisture but also a delightful fruity flavour.

  • Butter for avocado: If you’re aiming for a healthier twist in your brownies or chocolate desserts, swap out butter for avocado. Avocado shares a similar creamy consistency and offers a boost of healthy fats.

  • Sugar for honey: Instead of sugar, reach for honey as a sweet alternative. Use ½ - ⅓ cup of honey for every cup of sugar. Besides its natural sweetness, honey lends a unique flavour and added nutrients.

  • Lemon juice for vinegar: When life gives you lemons and you’ve run out of lemon juice, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can step in. These vinegars provide the acidity needed in recipes, balancing flavours and acting as an excellent substitute for lemon juice.

  • Breadcrumbs for ground oats: Running low on breadcrumbs? Ground oats can come to the rescue. Simply pulse oats in a food processor until you have a breadcrumb-like consistency. This substitution works wonderfully in dishes like meatballs, veggie burgers, or as a coating for baked or fried foods. Plus, it adds a nutritious wholegrain element to your meal.

  • Yoghurt for sour cream or buttermilk: If your recipe calls for yoghurt, and you’re fresh out, you can use 1 cup of sour cream or 1 cup of buttermilk as a substitute. These options will maintain the desired moisture and acidity in your dishes.

These pantry-inspired swaps not only help minimise waste but also open a world of culinary experimentation and sustainability in the kitchen. 

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