DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you are someone who cooks using recipes, you might have noticed that many of these require you to use “accent seasoning.” This is why many people already have these in their homes and use them in a variety of recipes. Accent seasoning is readily available in most stores in the USA.
When it comes to its taste, it’s hard to find a more unique flavor. However, the seasoning can be added to any dish to enhance the overall flavor. This is why accent seasoning is used even in restaurants and in most homes.
Although, when it comes to purchasing accent seasoning outside the U.S., you will note that this is hard to find. So, if you are interested in making a dish that requires accent seasoning, some alternatives can be used instead.
Accent Seasoning Alternatives
These alternatives will give you a similar taste to using accent seasoning, if not the same. Additionally, in some cases, people might even end up enjoying the alternatives even more than accent seasoning.
- China Salt
The best alternative that you can use instead of accent seasoning is Chinese salt. This is also known as monosodium glutamate or MSG. Salt is usually found in some natural foods as well as tomatoes and cheese.
Additionally, Chinese salt is only used as a flavor enhancer and adds umami flavor to the recipe. In simpler words, it adds a meaty flavor that helps make the soups or stews more delicious.
Additionally, you should note that accent seasoning itself also uses MSG, which is why Chinese salt is the best alternative. However, Chinese salt can be quite hard to find in most areas. This is because of all the side effects this type of seasoning has on people’s health.
The product has also been banned in many areas because of the adverse health effects. Although the main reason behind this is that the MSG itself does not exist in nature because this ingredient is a scientific invention.
On the other hand, some states also have this product easily available. So, if you are interested in trying out MSG, you can try getting Chinese salt. This should provide you with almost the same taste as using accent seasoning.
However, if you do not want to use this type of salt, you can move on to the other alternatives mentioned below.
When tasting MSG or accent seasoning, many people report that it feels similar to trying out something salty. This is why you can opt for salt because it will add that salty flavor but remember that it’s not the healthiest option because of various downsides.
However, you will be able to replicate the taste pretty well. Keep in mind that there is an extensive range of salts available, so it’s best to do your research before buying a particular salt as it can impact your dish’s flavor.
When it comes to the quantity of salt, it’s best to start by adding a lower amount of salt as compared to how much accent seasoning you were going to put in originally. Then, you can taste your dish and add in more salt if needed.
This is important because salt has a much more potent taste than both accent seasoning and MSG.
For people who want to add the saltiness of accent seasoning to their recipe, it is better to opt for sea salt. This is because sea salt adds more flavor rather than conventional salt. To illustrate, sea salt offers a pleasant and sweeter flavor as an aftertaste.
In addition, sea salt is a healthier choice because it doesn’t add too much saltiness to the recipe and has various nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. While it can be used in every recipe, it’s more suitable if you are following a French or Thai recipe.
- Korean Bamboo Salt
Korean bamboo salt is an infused sea salt, which is native to Korea. For centuries, Korean people have been making and using this salt, and it serves as a great alternative for Accent Seasoning.
When it comes down to the flavor, Korean bamboo salt adds a range of flavors to various recipes along with the mild sulfur aroma. As far as the saltiness is concerned, it’s pretty light, but the flavors are more plant-like and earthy.
Kosher salt is commonly known as kitchen salt and is an edible salt with a coarse texture. Kosher salt is actually an iodine-free salt and is a perfect addition to the recipes. This is because kosher salt is not suitable for table purposes.
Kosher salt boasts a purer flavor because there are no metallic additives in it, such as dextrose and fluoride. As far as the flavor is concerned, kosher salt enhances the food’s flavor rather than adding saltiness to the dishes.
In addition, it has a clean flavor and has a consistent texture that doesn’t impact your recipe.
- Seasonings
If you are someone who avoids using salt, there are many different types of seasonings that you can go for instead. Most seasonings have different ingredients added to them to give them unique flavors.
For this reason, you must check out the ingredients added to different seasonings to find out what works and what doesn’t. Also, when selecting the seasonings, it is better that you go for a well-known brand.
- Herbs & Spices
There are a number of herbs and spices available that can help you replicate the flavor of accent seasoning. Some of these herbs and spices include rosemary, tarragon, pepper, and garlic.
In addition, there are savory spices that will add warmth to the recipe, especially if you are making gravies and sauces. In most cases, you can opt for cumin and turmeric as they serve as a substitute for this seasoning.
The best thing about these herbs and spices is that you can mix them to create your own flavor but it is better to follow a recipe if you want to replicate the flavors of accent seasoning.
- Cajun Seasoning
Another alternative for accent seasoning is Cajun seasoning, especially because it can add a savory flavor to the dish. For the most part, it is used in summer recipes and boasts a peppery, garlicky, and smoky flavor.
However, the spiciness really depends on the brand because some brands have it spicier, but the flavor is pretty amazing. Overall, Cajun seasoning has a strong flavor, and it can add a hot touch to your food.
Cajun seasoning is made by mixing dried or fresh peppers and onions with thyme, oregano, garlic, cayenne, paprika, and black pepper. Also, if you want to intensify the flavor, it’s better to get Cajun seasoning with smoked paprika.
- Bouillon Powder
Bouillon powder is one of the best alternatives for accent seasoning since it’s readily available and does a great job of replicating the original flavor.
While bouillon is available in granular, cube, and liquid forms, it is better to opt for the powder form to ensure it doesn’t impact the texture of your dish.
Bouillon powder is made from different seasonings: salt, dehydrated vegetables, MSG, meat stock, and a slight percentage of fat. The best thing about bouillon powder is that you can find it in vegan and vegetarian varieties as well.
In addition to this, the bouillon powder is available in beef as well as chicken flavors. The beef bouillon powder is suitable for stews, soups, ground beef, and tacos. On the other hand, the chicken-flavored bouillon powder is suitable for enhancing the flavor of chicken recipes.
The Bottom Line
Accent seasoning is one of the most popular seasonings out there and is used in various savory foods, such as rice, soups, casseroles, salads, potatoes, and different types of meat.
However, with limited availability outside of the U.S., it is quite challenging to replicate the flavor, but the alternatives mentioned above are some reliable options!
Msg is found in nature, its not a man made chemical. Its use goes back thousands of years found in cheese.