Occasionally, every chef meets the situation of missing an important ingredient while cooking. If you’ve run out of whole or ground cloves, you might want to look for a clove substitute for sure.
A definite solution is to use whole cloves in place of ground cloves and vice versa. In such a scenario, use one teaspoon of the whole clove as a replacement for ¾ teaspoon of ground cloves. That’s cool!
But if you have no clove at all, are allergic to it, or want to try something else altogether, then there are other spices to use as substitutes for clove.
Clove: A Brief Overview
Cloves are the buds of an evergreen tree in the myrtle family, fittingly named syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia.
The word ‘clove’ comes from the French word ‘clou’ which means ‘nail,’ as the shape of a clove bud appears like a nail or tack.
This popular spice is used in cooking and several traditional medicines. Interestingly, this spice is also used for making a type of cigarette called ‘kretek’ in Indonesia which is quite popular across the world.
For industrial uses, the clove is an excellent ant repellent because of the bioactive chemicals in it.
Taste of Cloves
Cloves have a sweet, warm flavor, and are intensely aromatic. Their strong flavor is one of the most penetrating of all spices.
The astringent quality of cloves causes a numbing sensation in the mouth if you chew them. Often, it is recommended as an instant natural remedy to soothe the aching tooth.
Most people find their flavor to be strong, sweet, pungent, and almost hot.
The truly distinctive and aromatic flavor of clove makes it a wonderful addition to numerous recipes across the globe.
The chemical ‘eugenol’ present in cloves is the governing factor of its taste and aroma. Eugenol is a highly potent chemical compound, and for this reason, a few cloves are enough to flavor your dish.
Use of Clove in Cooking
The fragrance and aroma of cloves make them an important cooking ingredient in numerous recipes across the world.
They’re traditionally used in dishes served in the fall and winter like pies, soups, turkey, and other poultry dishes. Like cinnamon, cloves have a significant place in sweet dishes and baked goods.
In Asian cooking, it’s a must-have ingredient in most savory and curry dishes and spice blends like garam masala.
Using ground cloves have an advantage for it helps to disperse flavor evenly in the dish.
The clove is a key flavoring ingredient in many condiments, including Worcestershire sauce, pickles, ketchup, curries, and spice mixtures.
In short, cloves are a common ingredient in various recipes throughout the world from Spanish fig cake to German pfeffernüesse cookies.
Best Clove Substitutes
This spicy ingredient is easily available in most grocery stores. Even so, occasionally every chef overlooks an ingredient in the recipe list only to realize the absence of it in the nick of cooking time. Reasons like allergy or incompatibility with other ingredients may also compel you to find an alternative for cloves.
Fortunately, it’s rather easy to find a substitute for cloves as a few other common spices do have a similar flavor profile. Let’s now look at a few of the most appropriate ones.
1. Nutmeg
The sweet and peppery flavor profile of nutmeg is quite identical to that of cloves. Perhaps, it is the best ingredient that you can use in place of cloves.
Nutmeg is also a versatile spice-like clove that goes well with a variety of dishes, both sweet and savory.
Nutmeg has a slightly mild flavor than cloves. Preferably, use an equal amount of nutmeg for substituting cloves that your recipe calls for or start with less and if required add more in the latter part of cooking.
2. Allspice
Allspice has a complex flavor profile that includes a bit of varied tastes that you get from cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, and cinnamon.
This spice isn’t a perfect match for cloves yet it has the punch and hotness of cloves. What differs between them is the sweetness of cloves and peppery overtones of allspice.
In a pinch, you can easily use the versatile allspice instead of cloves. This substitute can also very well complement most other spices included in your recipe. Use allspice in savories, meat dishes, sauces, or curries. But don’t use this spice in sweet recipes for its strong peppery note.
Use allspice in a 1:1 ratio in place of cloves in your recipes.
3. Cinnamon
A sweet and woody flavor, cinnamon has a slight citrusy note that somewhat matches clove. Cinnamon is slightly spicier than clove but less sweet. In an emergency, this spice can still do good work in most recipes that call for clove.
The downside is that cinnamon lacks the powerful fragrance of cloves with sweet-spicy and fruity top notes. Therefore, to mimic the aroma of cloves, add some vanilla powder to cinnamon. You can swap cloves with this spice blend, especially in sweet dishes like desserts.
4. Cardamom and Cinnamon
Cardamom has a unique, strong taste, with an intensely aromatic, resinous fragrance.
The citrusy and herbal flavor of this spice isn’t as sweet as cloves. When used alone, it’s not a perfect replacement for cloves for sure. All the same, using a blend of cardamom and cinnamon is a great substitution for clove especially in savory dishes, meat dishes, and curries.
Take both these spices in equal measure to make the blend. Use it in a one-to-one ratio in place of clove.
5. Mace
Mace is nothing but the red coating that encases the nutmeg kernel in dried form. Basically, it tastes like nutmeg that has a close affinity to clove.
Use the ground mace to substitute cloves in savory dishes, curries, or meat dishes.
Note that mace becomes bitter if cooked for a lengthy time, so add mace to your dish at the last minute of cooking. As a stand-in ingredient for clove, use it in a 1:1 ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I substitute for cloves in baking?
In baking, allspice is a great replacement for cloves because of its warm, spicy taste. Use it just like you would cloves. Or, mix ground cinnamon and nutmeg together for a similar clove flavor.
What can I substitute for cloves in ham?
For ham, allspice is an excellent choice instead of cloves because it has a warm, spicy taste. Use the same amount of allspice as cloves. Or, mix equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg for a close flavor.
What can I substitute for cloves in pumpkin pie?
In pumpkin pie, allspice is a top choice to replace cloves. It has a warm, spicy taste that pairs well with pumpkin. Use the same amount of allspice as cloves. Or, blend cinnamon and nutmeg for a similar taste.
Is cloves a nut?
Cloves aren't nuts. They're flower buds from the Syzygium aromaticum tree found in Indonesia. People use cloves in cooking, medicine, and to flavor some products.
Are cloves and allspice the same?
Cloves and allspice aren't the same. Cloves come from the Syzygium aromaticum tree's flower buds and have a bold, warm taste. Allspice is from the Pimenta dioica tree's berries and tastes like a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but milder.
How many whole cloves in a teaspoon?
About 16 whole cloves go into a teaspoon. The actual number might change a bit based on the clove's size and how close they are placed together.
Can I use ground cloves instead of whole cloves?
Yes, you can use ground cloves as a substitute for whole cloves. However, ground cloves have a more concentrated flavor. Typically, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves can replace 3 whole cloves. Adjust the quantity based on your recipe's requirements and taste preferences. Always store ground spices in a cool, dark place for freshness.
How to make ground cloves from whole cloves?
To turn whole cloves into ground cloves, use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. With a mortar, crush the cloves until powdery. In a grinder, pulse the cloves until they become a fine powder.
The Bottom Line
Clove, known for its warm and spicy flavor, is a must-have ingredient in several of your favorite recipes. Instead of cloves, use nutmeg or allspice in your recipes. In an emergency, you may also try a blend of cinnamon and vanilla or cardamom and cinnamon as a clove substitute. As a last resort, use any spice blends like pumpkin pie spice or others that have clove as a major ingredient.
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