The orris root is widely used in combination with other plants and herbs for making tea as well as homeopathic dilutions. It is usually used for blood purification, improving kidney functions, stimulating digestion and appetite, and improving the bile flow. When it comes down to the culinary world, orris root is used in gins, and its powder is used in ras el hanout, which is a spice mixture. The orris root looks like ginger but can be hard to source, which is why we have some substitutes that you can try!
Orris Root Substitutes
- Rose Petals
Just like the orris root, the roses are used in perfumery as well as cooking industries. When it comes down to cooking, they help add floral flavor notes to the food. To be honest, the floral notes are different from the violet smell that you can get from the orris root, but the rose fragrance can be used to replace the orris root in the food.
For instance, you can use rose essence or rose petals in desserts, but you can add them to ras el hanout mixture as well. When you have to replace orris root in ras el hanout with rose petals, it’s recommended that you add chili pepper and cumin seeds. The best thing about rose petals is that they are fragrant, which is why they can be used in cooking recipes.
However, if you use the rose petals, make sure that you don’t use the rose petals from the florists because they are contaminated by pesticides and fertilizers – it’s recommended that you add rose petals from your rose plant, especially if you didn’t use the growth stimulants. On the other hand, if you cannot find contamination-free rose petals, you can opt for food-grade rose water.
- Licorice Root
The orris root is popular for the floral scent that’s similar to the violets, but its flavor is like licorice. In case you need to use an alternative of orris root that replicates its flavor, you can opt for licorice root. It’s one of the most versatile options, and you can enhance its flavor in the dish by adding star anise and fennel leaves. It can be used in savory as well as sweet recipes.
When the licorice root is used correctly, it will add umami flavor. For the most part, it can be added to poultry, cured pork, and fish.
- Angelica
Angelic is not a root, but it’s an herb that’s usually related to celery and parsley. All parts of angelica can be used in cooking, but it’s recommended that you use the angelica essential oil as the alternative. The oil can be used to add flavor to the gin and goes equally well with vermouth and chartreuse. When it comes down to gin, angelica adds an amazing flavor.
- Licorice Extract
We have already added that you can use licorice root as an alternative for orris root, but you can also use the extract. It’s basically a tincture of licorice root and is made by extracting the root’s compound with the help of ethyl alcohol. It has a very distinct flavor, which helps replicate the flavor. It’s actually convenient to use and can be added to baked goods and root beer. The licorice extract can be used in the production of licorice candy as well.
- Anise
Anise belongs to the parsley family and has the capacity to replicate the flavor of orris root. However, it’s recommended that you use the seed because it holds the most flavor and can be added to alcoholic beverages as well as the dessert. The anise has anethole, which is an essential oil – it adds the eucalyptus notes to the food.
- Star Anise
Star anise is native to Asia and is related to the magnolia tree. Its flavors are similar to the licorice root as well as orris root. In addition, it has anethole and adds mint and eucalyptus notes to the food. For the most part, it’s added to the Chinese five spice powder and is widely used in Asian recipes.
- Lavender
Last but not least, you can also use lavender as a substitute for orris root and adds floral notes to cooking. It can be used in perfumery and is widely used as a scent for linens. In addition, it makes a great addition to herbes de provence and can be used in savory recipes as well.