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EmailHere is a list of uncommon ingredient substitutes, for those recipes with hard-to-find ingredients.
| ITEM | SUBSTITUTION |
|---|---|
| Balsamic vinegar—1 tablespoon | 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar |
| Bamboo shoots | Asparagus (in fried dishes) |
| Bergamot | Mint |
| Chayotes | Yellow summer squash or zucchini |
| Cilantro | Parsley (for color only; flavor cannot be duplicated) |
| Coconut milk | 2–1/2 cups water plus 2 cups shredded, unsweetened coconut.
Combine and bring to a boil. Remove from heat; cool. Mix in a blender for 2 minutes; strain. Makes about 2 cups. |
| Delicata squash | Butternut squash or sweet potato |
| Green mangoes | Sour, green cooking apples |
| Habanero peppers | 5 jalapeno peppers or serrano peppers |
| Italian seasoning | Equal parts basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme |
| Lemon grass | Lemon zest (zest from 1 lemon equals 2 stalks lemon grass) |
| Limes or lime juice | Lemons or lemon juice |
| Lo Mein noodles | Egg noodles |
| Mascarpone — 1 cup |
3 tablespoons heavy cream plus 3/4 cup cream cheese plus 4 tablespoons butter |
| Neufchatel | Cream cheese or Boursin |
| Palm sugar | Light brown sugar |
| Rice wine | Pale, dry sherry or white vermouth |
| Red peppers | Equal amount pimientos |
| Romano cheese | Parmesan cheese |
| Saffron | Turmeric (for color; flavor is different) |
| Shallots | Red onions or Spanish onions |
| Shrimp paste | Anchovy paste |
| Tamarind juice | 5 parts ketchup to 1 part vinegar |
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