For everyone fond of Indian cooking and cuisines, they would know about the importance of ajwain. Famous for the musty yet strong smell, ajwain surely adds flavor and aroma to the dishes. Ajwain has an origination from Egypt but is extensively used in India, Afghanistan, and Iran. Usually, ajwain is added to biscuits and spicy dishes for flavoring purposes. On the contrary, if you cannot fin ajwain, we have added the ajwain substitutes in this article!
9 Best Substitutes For Ajwain
1) Dried Thyme
When it comes down to flavor, ajwain shares it drastically with dried thyme. However, ajwain seems to have a musty undertone, which makes dried thyme an apt option. There are various varieties of dried thyme out there, but we suggest using the standard variety. In addition, there is a slight minty taste, along with a woodsy taste in both of them. In addition, both of them have thymol oil. While using dried thyme as the substitute, we suggest using the same amount as you would use ajwain.
2) Mexican Or Mediterranean Oregano
Be it thyme or oregano, both of them have Mediterranean origins and belong to the mint family. So, oregano has earthy notes with a sharp flavor, which is why it makes an apt substitution of ajwain. The aroma is pretty identical and doesn’t even lose the flavor, even if cooked for a long time. However, it’s suggested to use lesser oregano as you would use ajwain.
That’s to say because the flavor and fragrance can be too pungent for some people. In case you opt for the Mediterranean oregano, it can be used in pastries and bread, where you had to use the ajwain.
3) Caraway Seeds
In case you cannot find thyme or oregano, opt for the caraway seeds since they make a great substitute for ajwain. While using the caraway seeds in place of ajwain, use the half amount of seeds as compared to ajwain. However, you can gradually add more caraway seeds as per the flavor and taste.
4) Taco Seasoning
If you want the substitute of ajwain for spicy cuisines or dishes, you can opt for taco seasoning. This seasoning has oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and more, which can offer a fine taste. Some people might find it having complex favors, but it should be good as a substitute. All in all, don’t forget that there might be salt added, so keep the salt amount in the actual dish lesser.
5) Marjoram
Be it thyme or oregano; marjoram has a similar taste to both of them that makes it suitable as the ajwain substitute. Even more, it has a minty taste and can be used in Mediterranean dishes. However, it comes with a mild flavor or aroma, which means it cannot take up the long cooking times. On the other hand, you cannot use marjoram as an ajwain substitute in curries because the taste might be overpowered. Generally, it’s better to use the same amount of marjoram as you would with ajwain. However, one can always add more if the dish demands!
6) Dried Tarragon
When it comes down to the dried tarragon, it is considered an optimal substitute for thyme. Likewise, it will suffice for ajwain as well. On the contrary, you need to be careful about the licorice notes since they can lead to off-flavor in some dishes. So, it’s suggested that you experiment with the proportions and dishes.
7) Cumin
In some dishes and recipes, you can use cumin as a substitute for ajwain. This is because there are some identical notes in both these options. As for the utilization, it’s suggested that you use the same amount of cumin in place of ajwain.
8) Aniseed
For everyone looking for the high-flavor combination of taste and aroma, aniseed will be an apt option. It will offer a licorice taste and has a very strong flavor overall. While substituting ajwain for aniseed, you should opt for a little pinch. However, the taste will be more on the sweeter side.
9) Basil
If you can use oregano in place of ajwain, why not basil? With this being said, basil makes a great substitute for ajwain if you are making a Mediterranean dish. In some cases, you can even opt for dill if you need to season chicken or fishes.