Out of Parsley? Check Out Our Complete List of Herb Substitutions (2024)

FAQs

What spice is closest in taste to parsley? ›

Chervil is closely related to parsley, but has a milder flavor which makes it the perfect alternative for dried parsley. Check out some of the other substitutions, below: Chervil. Tarragon.

It is a blend of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme that is perfect for just about anything! I used this frozen herb blend for throwing into literally every soup I made, pairing with roast chicken, crockpot beef roasts, wild rice with herb butter, potatoes, roasted carrots…

Cilantro. What does cilantro look like? Cilantro has broad, frilly leaves in a deep green shade that appear similar to those of flat-leaf parsley.

Parsley can be substituted with any chopped fresh herbs such as oregano, thyme or tarragon, or even a mixture of any of them. If you don't have any fresh herbs, then dried oregano, or dried mixed Italian herbs work well in place of parsley.

There are three common types of parsley – French (or curly leaf parsley), Italian (or flat-leafed parsley) and Hamburg (grown for is celery-type root). Common curly or French parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. crispum) is mostly used as a garnish though it can certainly be eaten.

Basil is a delicate herb that is often added at the end of cooking to add a sweet flavor. Parsley on the other hand is a more rough herb that has a bright, slightly bitter taste.

Lovage Basics

The seeds of the lovage plant are known as celery seed. Lovage tastes like celery, with undertones of parsley and hint of anise. It's mild enough to use with fish and poultry, but has just enough spice to make it interesting.

You can easily substitute parsley for cilantro in recipes like smoky sheet pan salmon and potatoes, for example. Even in dishes that seem made for cilantro—chimichurri comes to mind—you can experiment with other herbs, spicing up a recipe with fresh or roasted garlic, red pepper, or flavored oils.

Many—but not all—herbs are good companion plants for parsley. It grows well with basil, chives, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, marjoram, oregano, sage, savory, and thyme. Avoid planting parsley near mint, dill, and cilantro, as they can easily cross-pollinate.

Basil and rue dislike each other. Perhaps this is because Basil is sweet and rue is very bitter. Fennel is one of the few plants that has mostly bad companions. Most plants dislike Fennel, and it should be planted well away from the vegetable garden.

What not to plant with thyme? ›

Although a variety of herbs (and even flowers, like marigolds and nasturtiums) can often be planted together, certain kinds like parsley, cilantro, tarragon, basil and chives prefer a more moist soil, and should not be planted directly with thyme.

Parsley is an herb that features in a wide variety of dishes, either as an ingredient or a garnish. It has a peppery taste. Some good substitutes for parsley include basil, oregano, cilantro, carrot tops, and arugula.

The bright green leaves are quite large, triangular and 2-3 times pinnate. The seeds are black and elongated. Also known as Devil's Parsley, possibly because of its resemblance to the highly poisonous Hemlock, this plant occurs in accounts of withcraft practices. It is a native plant belonging to the Apiaceae family.

In medieval times, it was believed that if virgins planted parsley they would be visited by the Devil, and superstition dictated that men were only supposed to plant it on Good Friday. It was further thought that parsley was so slow to germinate because the seeds had to travel to hell and back before they could grow.

You can add whole parsley leaves into a salad, for instance, or add finely chopped parsley to finish a soup, pasta or stir-fry. It adds a bright, clean flavour and extra colour. While both parsleys have their own unique flavour, most recipes that call for “parsley” can use either type.

Just use a third the amount your recipe calls for if you're swapping dried herbs for fresh. So if your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley, because 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons.

The best substitutes for fresh dill are herbal—parsley, fennel, and tarragon are great alternatives. Spices like anise seeds and fennel seeds are good dill seed alternatives. What tastes similar to dill? Fresh parsley has a similar flavor to dill.

Flavor. Basil and Parsley leaves look similar, though they have very different tastes. Basil has a warm, sweet flavor which is often found in Italian cuisine. Parsley has a more peppery taste with a hint of earthy tones to it so it makes a great addition to many savory meals.