Greek seasoning is perfect for sprinkling on fish, chicken, and veggies. It’s amazingly tasty to have chicken smothered with this spice blend.
Like any other kitchen staples, you may have run out of this seasoning or are unavailable in your locality. In such a scenario, what can you substitute for Greek seasoning?
This article examines the best Greek seasoning alternatives that you can use in a pinch, and also a little about its ingredients, flavor, and uses in cooking.
What is Greek seasoning?
Greek seasoning is a blend of different spices and herbs popularly used in some Mediterranean recipes. All the ingredients in Greek seasoning are common kitchen staples known for their aroma and distinctive herbaceous and spicy flavors.
Most of the grocery stores in Southeast Europe do have this pre-made spice blend on sale, else you can buy it from online vendors like McCormick or Cavender.
Many of the store-bought Greek seasonings contain both gluten and MSG ingredients. But you can easily use your own homemade Greek dry seasoning with ingredients that are gluten-free as well as vegan.
What are Greek seasoning ingredients?
Are you wondering what Greek seasoning is made of? Â This seasoning is comprised of a bunch of herbs and spices. Typical ingredients in a traditional Greek seasoning are oregano, onion, garlic, parsley, dill, thyme, and marjoram. The constituent parts can vary depending on the blend and manufacturer. Some of the customized Greek spice mixtures may contain additional ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, pepper, or salt.
What does Greek seasoning taste like?
You’ll find a couple of variants of Greek seasoning with differences in two or more ingredients. Thus the flavor of Greek seasoning can slightly vary according to the ingredients used in the blend.
Generally, Greek seasoning is savory in taste with warm, minty, and earthy notes. It has a mild mixture of sweet and peppery undertones. The herbaceous aroma is outstanding in dishes that integrate this Greek spice mixture.
How is Greek seasoning used in cooking?
It’s a highly versatile all-purpose seasoning with a delicious aroma and complex flavor with a couple of undertone flavors. This seasoning is either sprinkled over or used as a spice rub in a wide variety of dishes.
It is typically used in dishes like chicken, lamb, beef, turkey, vegetables, and salads. A balanced blend of Greek seasoning with olive oil, lemon juice, or vinegar works great for dressing. Similarly, it is combined with yogurt and lemon making a tasty dip for fresh vegetables.
What is a good Greek seasoning substitute?
The authentic taste of several Greek cuisines heavily depends on this mixture of spices and herbs. Usually, a pre-made Greek seasoning blend is conveniently used by most chefs. What if you don’t have it? Choose an emergency substitute that can save your dish. Think of using one of the following Greek seasoning substitutes most suitable for your recipe.
Homemade Greek seasoning
There is no better replacement for Greek seasoning (pre-made) than a homemade replica of the same. If you notice, all ingredients in this seasoning are staple cooking ingredients that you might already have in your pantry. To your advantage, you can make the best Greek seasoning spice mixture according to your taste preferences or the requirements of the specific recipe.
Greek seasoning recipe:
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried Greek oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
Thoroughly mix the ingredients in a bowl; store the ready-to-use blend in an airtight glass container. Alternately, blend spices in a spice grinder for a finer texture.
Note that you may increase or decrease the proportion of any ingredient, or leave out one or two ingredients according to your taste preference or for the unavailability of any ingredient.
Use the homemade Greek seasoning in the same way as you use the store-bought pre-packaged blend.
Za’atar
Za’atar is the most commonly used spice blend from the Middle East with several variants throughout the region. Most of the ingredients used in za’atar are also used in Greek spice mixtures like oregano, thyme, and marjoram. However, za’atar has additional ingredients like sumac and sesame seeds. Despite some differences in their taste profile, still, both can very well be used interchangeably in most recipes that call for either of them. As a substitute, use za’atar in the same quantity as the Greek seasoning required for your recipe.
Italian seasoning
Italian seasoning is the most popular spice blend in Mediterranean cooking. Italian seasoning is a good alternative to Greek seasoning for a majority of the ingredients are the same in both of them. They are also used in the same ways in cooking. The ingredients like oregano, thyme, and rosemary are central to both seasonings. However, Greek seasoning has a more complex flavor because of the more ingredients included in it. Using Italian seasoning in place of Greek seasoning is a viable option that really works for most recipes.
Swap out Greek seasoning with Italian seasoning in the same quantity.
Herbes de Provence
Herbes de Provence, a commonly used spice mixture in French cooking, is another worthy substitute for Greek seasoning. Though Herbes de Provence does not contain spices, it contains all the herbs included in Greek seasoning. In fact, thyme and oregano are the core ingredients in both these seasoning blends. They both have similar herbaceous aroma and flavor though Italian seasoning lacks the spiciness of Greek seasoning.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the best substitutes for Greek seasoning are homemade Greek seasoning, Za’atar, Italian seasoning, and Herbes de Provence. Homemade Greek seasoning, made from common pantry ingredients, offers the closest match and can be tailored to personal taste.
Za’atar, although it includes unique ingredients like sumac and sesame seeds, can substitute Greek seasoning in equal quantities. Italian seasoning, sharing core ingredients like oregano and thyme, is a viable alternative, as is Herbes de Provence, despite its lack of spices and a slightly different flavor profile.
Each of these substitutes can effectively replace Greek seasoning in various recipes, maintaining the essential Mediterranean flavors.
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