5 Common Ingredient Substitutions for Your Recipe

Don't you just hate it when you have every ingredient for your recipe except one? If taking another trip to the supermarket is just not in your plans, never fear, help is here! There are several simple ingredient substitutions to be found in your own pantry or fridge. Here are five common substitutions that will work perfectly with your recipe and save you time and worry.

Ingredient Needed: Cream Cheese

Substitute With: Part Skim Ricotta or Cottage cheese, beaten until smooth.

This substitution is especially great in dips and savory dishes, and works well in some baked goods also. If you need cream cheese for a cheesecake however, you might do better to find another recipe for a ricotta cheesecake, so the ingredient proportions are correct. Baking is a little tricky in that department. If you find your dip is still a little runny, add more cottage cheese or sour cream to thicken.

Ingredient Needed: Red or White Wine, 1 cup

Substitute With: 1 cup apple or white grape juice (for white wine), or 1 cup of grape or cranberry (for red wine).

When cooking with wine, if you don't have any available, don't use (or buy) a cooking wine, as they tend to be mostly salt. Using a juice will give your dish great flavor, and most homes tend to have one of these in their cupboard. Of course, as Food Network host Rachael Ray advises, you can also substitute with chicken or beef stock as well.

Ingredient Needed: Unsweetened Chocolate, 1 ounce

Substitute With: 3 tbsp. cocoa powder and 1 tbsp. butter, margarine, or vegetable oil

If you cook with chocolate a lot, chances are you have found yourself with the wrong kind once or twice. This substitution is great, and I have used it many times (as I always keep cocoa powder on hand). You can also make a semi-sweet version (to be used in baked goods not requiring semi-sweet chips) by adding 4 tbsp. of sugar to your mix.

Ingredient Needed: Worcestershire sauce, 1tsp.

Substitute With: Bottled steak sauce, 1 tsp.

This substitution is such a great trick, because most of us have a bottle in our fridge year-round. The reason why steak sauce works so great is because one of its main ingredients is, you guessed it, Worcestershire sauce! Containing anchovies, vinegar, and spices, Worcestershire sauce is one of the best condiments to have on hand, with steak sauce now a close second.

Ingredient Needed: fresh minced herb, 1 tbsp.

Substitute With: 1 tsp. of same dried or ½ tsp. ground herb.

When a recipe calls for fresh herbs, it is acceptable to substitute when cooking a dish, but not when needed in say, a salad. And why use less dried? When herbs have been dried and ground, their flavor intensifies, so less is needed.

Tips on Substituting Ingredients:

- Try to find a similar ingredient. For example, plain yogurt can be a wonderful substitution for everything from buttermilk to mayo, depending on the dish.

- Don't be afraid to try something new. When it comes to spices, it pays to try to substitute with something else in your pantry. If in doubt, add to a small amount if possible, or omit all together if necessary.

- Search cookbooks. Some contain substitution lists, especially with fresh herbs and spices. Or similar recipes may contain different ingredients already in your kitchen.

- Search the Internet. There are many websites with valuable information on ingredient substitutions, many offering more than one idea!

I hope you found these tips helpful to your kitchen success. Never be afraid of substituting ingredients, as you may find them to be better than the original, or best yet, you may create a completely original dish!