Parsely is an aromatic herb that imparts a herbaceous and fresh flavor to your dishes. It is usually used as a garnish in a variety of dishes.
It is a flowering plant native to central regions in the Mediterranean.
It is commonly available as Italian flat-leaf parsley, root parsley, and french curly leaf parsley. The curly parsley form has a stronger taste compared to the flat-leaf.
They can be used as fresh parsley or dried parsley, depending on your choice of dish preparation.
Of course, parsley is not always available in your kitchen or sometimes in stores. ]
Other times you may find that someone in your friends or family is allergic to parsley or does not like its taste.
Not everyone may enjoy fresh or dried parsley, in which case you need a parsley substitute.
This substitute for parsley should hold a close resemblance to the subtle flavor of parsley, whether you opt for fresh herbs, dried herbs, or other greens to replace parsley.
It is always best to replace fresh parsley with a fresh alternative and dried parsley with a dry substitute.
10 Tasty Herbs and Greens to Substitute for Parsley
1) Carrot Greens
Yes, you read that right carrot greens can be used as a parsley substitute.
They are not inedible as we have believed for a long time. Not only are they safe for consumption, but they are also beneficial for your health.
These greens can be used in place of flat-leaf parsley in a pinch.
Compared to the mild flavor of parsley, carrot greens are slightly bitter.
While they can be used as a substitute for parsley, they should be used as a garnish rather than in the cooking process.
This is because of these greens’ bitter taste; using them in cooking would give the dish a bitter, stronger flavor, making it impossible to eat.
Carrot greens have similar benefits to carrots.
They are packed full of Vitamin C, a vital nutrient for our body that acts as an antioxidant along with other properties that boost your health and immunity.
This makes these greens a healthy parsley replacement as well as a replacement for the distinct flavor of parsley.
2) Chervil
Chervil is a herb that is used often in French cooking.
It has a very subtle flavor that is similar to parsley. It carries the subtle taste of aniseed or licorice. This herb is part of the parsley plant family.
This herb can be found all over Europe today.
It is one of the four main herbs of fines herbes used traditionally in French cuisine and can be used fresh or dried.
The chervil leaves with their bright green color look similar to flat-leaf parsley. Due to its mild taste, it can be used as a parsley replacement in cooking as well as in garnishes.
In cooking, whether you are replacing fresh parsley or dried parsley, you will need to use more of this herb due to the milder taste it imparts.
This is a versatile herb and can be used in a variety of different recipes.
It can be used as a salad green, in coups, when cooking eggs, and in a bearnaise sauce.
It can be used in making herb butter, herb-infused oil, and herb pesto.
Along with being a herb used to replace parsley, chervil has various health benefits.
It has the ability to improve the functioning of your immune system, boost the health of your kidneys and provide relief in menstrual cramps.
It can also reduce cholesterol levels, decrease the effects of gout, and provide relief for coughs.
3) Celery Leaves
Another rather surprising option on the list of parsley substitutes is celery leaves.
These greens bear a stark resemblance to flat-leaf parsley. As a substitute for parsley, they can replace parsley as a garnish.
These leaves carry a muted flavor and can not be used to provide a similar flavor as Italian parsley when cooking.
These greens are perfect for substituting fresh parsley and can be used to garnish numerous dishes such as salads and soups.
This salad green is easily accessible and can be used in a pinch to replace parsley.
Along with being used to replace parsley as a garnish, it has numerous health benefits.
Celery has long been used in traditional medicines due to its antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Celery can reduce inflammation in the body, decrease blood pressure, and reduce the chances of stroke and heart disease.
4) Tarragon
This dried spice is also called estragon and is a part of the sunflower family. It is a commonly used French herb like chives and parsley-like chervil.
Its flavor is different from Italian parsley but is close enough in taste that it can be used as a substitute for parsley.
Tarragon can be used fresh or dried depending on what the recipe calls.
Tarragon can be found as a fresh herb or in dried forms. Due to its similar flavor to parsley, it can be used in both cooking and in garnishes.
It is a good substitute for whenever you need to add parsley to a meal.
This herb can be used in soups, sauces, salads, and many other meals.
Along with its ability to be used as a garnish or in cooking to replace fresh parsley or dried parsley, Tarragon has a variety of health of health-boosting capabilities.
This herb increases sensitivity to insulin, which reduces glucose levels in the blood, can boost appetite, reduce inflammation and improve sleep patterns.
5) Curly Leaf Endive
This bright green plant has curly leaves that closely resemble curly leaf parsley. It can be eaten raw, used in cooking, or as a garnish.
It has a mild peppery flavor and can be used fresh or dried. It’s one of the many parsley substitutes that can easily be used to mimic the flavor of parsley.
Endive is a strong-flavored herb and needs to be used in smaller quantities when cooking to prevent overpowering the dish with its intense flavor.
It can be used as a dried parsley substitute or in the form of fresh herbs used in garnishes.
You can finely chop, braise, sautee and steam this herb and use it in soups, and it is also used in pasta, stews, and salads.
It gives all dishes a distinctive taste and needs to be adjusted accordingly so that it can adequately replace parsley with its peppery taste.
Curly endive comes packed with a host of nutrients that are beneficial for your health and well-being.
It contains high levels of vitamin C, which has known antioxidant properties as well as vitamin K and vitamin A.
Additionally, it contains minerals like potassium and dietary fibers.
These vitamins and minerals are used in a variety of functions and reactions in the body’s metabolism. They boost your immunity and boost your body’s overall health.
6) Oregano Herb
Oregano is a herb that is commonly used in Italian dishes, and it can be found in sauces, soups, salads, stew, and much more.
This herb is part of the mint family, which includes fresh herbs like sage and thyme.
It resembles flat-leaf parsley, but it has a more intense flavor than parsley.
Oregano is among the many commonly found dried herbs; it has a strong flavor, stronger than curly parsley, and can be used in a variety of dishes.
Dried oregano can be used as a garnish or in cooking, and the quantity needs to be altered to replicate the delicate flavor of parsley.
Oregano has several health benefits.
It has antibacterial properties, can improve digestion, and can reduce cough.
7) Basil
With its green leaves and strong taste, basil is a regularly used herb in Italian cooking.
Fresh basil is needed to make pesto sauce, combined with pine nuts, olive oil, and other herbs. Basil and other herbs like chives and cilantro are substitutes for parsley.
Dried basil or fresh basil can be used in various garnishes or in cooking. It can be found in soups, pasta, and sauces.
Due to its strong taste, it should only be used as an alternative for parsley in Italian cooking.
Basil is highly nutritious and has numerous health benefits. It contains vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and manganese.
It can improve memory, improve blood glucose, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol.
8) Chives
Chives can be a great option when looking for substitutes for parsley. They are bright, green, and look like the sprigs of green onions.
They have a taste that is similar to garlic and onions.
They are usually used in garnishes rather than in cooking as they give foods a brighter, fresher appearance.
Chives can be found globally, in North America, Europe, and Asia. They can be found in stores and can also be grown at home.
They can be used to garnish scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes.
Chives can be used to make soups, fish, and many other dishes.
Not only are chives delicious and replacements for parsley they also boast various health benefits. They contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, and iron.
They also contain beta carotene.
Vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta carotene have antioxidant properties.
Chives have also been shown to prevent colds and fevers, increase blood cells, increase immunity and maintain blood pressure.
9) Cilantro
Cilantro, also called Chinese parsley or Mexican parsley it is an herb that comes from coriander.
Its leaves look similar to flat-leafed parsley and can be used as a replacement for parsley in meals or as a garnish. It can be bought as fresh or dried cilantro.
It can also be grown at home, making it easy to have access to fresh cilantro.
The strong taste of cilantro makes it ideal for making Mexican or Thai dishes. As a garnish, it gives a change in color while also giving a fresh taste to the meal.
When using it to replace parsley in Thai foods, Indian foods, or Mexican dishes, this flavor needs to be accounted for, and the amount of the herb should be adjusted accordingly.
Not only does cilantro provide flavor and color to meals. It also provides a range of benefits for your health.
It can provide improvement to symptoms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, assist in blood sugar regulation, and reduce anxiety.
10) Arugula
This is a salad green rather than a herb.
It can, however, still be used as a replacement for parsley in meals and garnishes. It has a bitter and pepper-like flavor and so needs to be used carefully to account for this taste difference.
It comes packed with nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and potassium.
These improve the functioning of various processes in the body.
Conclusion
The herbs and greens can be used to replace parsley in meals and garnishes.
The amount used needs to be adjusted according to the flavor of each herb and green so that they can replicate the taste parsley gives to meals.