If you want to have delicious soups or sauces, stews, and salads, you know celery seed is the real deal. It has an earthy-sweet flavor and crunchiness that gives meals a unique taste.
But what happens if you need to find a substitute for celery seed?
Or, maybe, you have a friend who’s allergic or can’t stand the smell or flavor of celery seed?
Well, we’ve done the research and found the best substitutes for celery seed that will keep the aroma and flavor of your dish alive.
Table Of Contents
What Is Celery Seed?
Celery seed is a spice used in soups, salads, sauces, dry rubs, and brines. It comes from the seeds of wild celery and belongs to the family of carrots and parsley.
You can use it either as a whole grain or ground powder.
As a seed, it’s dark brown and the size of a poppy seed. It turns greenish-brown in powder form.
Health Benefits of Celery Seeds
Celery seeds are not only good for culinary uses. They have low-calorie content.
When used in herbal medicine, it’s known as a diuretic that helps in enhancing urine flow.
Here are some more benefits:
- It helps in preventing and treating breast cancer. For example, the celery seeds take in some nutrients to the breast when you have breast cancer. That suppresses and starves the tumor, thus reducing more growth.
- Boasts your health because it’s a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin C, K, and B6.
- Celery seeds strengthen the bones and help reduce cases of joint problems
- They contribute to forming of the red blood cells.
- It improves your sleep because they have magnesium.
- They lower the risk of arthritis.
24 Substitutes For Celery Seed for Your Recipes
Here are the top substitutes for celery seed:
1. Celery Leaves and Stalks
Celery leaves and stalks are your first choice when substituting a celery seed.
However, their flavor isn’t equivalent to the celery seed. They are also bulkier than the seeds, so you need to cut them into small pieces before you cook.
To make their flavor almost equivalent to the celery seed, you have to use six tablespoons.
Note that they have fiber. So, if you can grind the leaves or stalks before using them, you can keep their flavor consistent.
2. Dill Seeds
Dill seeds are primarily used in pickles. These are suitable celery substitute because their flavor is almost the same as the celery seed.
They are rich in Vitamin C and D, and most people love them because they cure cancer.
However, dill seeds are not your everyday kind of spice, so finding them in your local grocery can be difficult.
3. Celery Salt
Can you substitute celery salt for celery seed? The short answer – yes!
Celery salt is one of the best substitutes for celery seed because it’s a combination of seed and salt.
One tablespoon of celery salt is enough to keep the flavor of your original recipe.
When using celery salt, make sure to reduce the amount of table salt in your recipe so that the two salts balance out.
Don’t have it on hand? You may be interested in finding some celery salt substitutes.
4. Parsley
Parsley comes from the same family as celery, dill, and carrots. You can use parsley in all your cooked dishes or sauces and salads.
Don’t expect to get the same intense flavor as the celery seeds, but it’s equivalent to 3 tablespoons.
5. Celery Powder
Celery powder is a fantastic option since it’s made from the celery seed.
You can use one tablespoon of it to spice your meals. Use a grinder to prepare your celery powder.
Alternatively, you can get a ground one from herbal shops.
6. Ginger
Ginger is a household name. It has a sweet taste that’s slightly peppery with an intense and spicy aroma that brings out the best of any dish.
You can also use ginger when dried or fresh in cakes and cookies.
7. Garlic
Garlic has a bolder taste, so you should use it moderately. And like ginger, you can use garlic when fresh or dried and ground into powder.
However, too much ginger in your recipe can result in heartburn and diarrhea. [1]
8. Black Pepper
One of the best celery seed replacements belongs to the family of Piperaceae.
Black pepper has a bitter yet spicy flavor that brings out the best taste in most dishes.
9. Caraway Seeds
Can you substitute caraway for celery seed?
Caraway seeds grow in Asia, Europe, and Africa. They have a nutty flavor with a bitter undertone.
But overall, these seeds bring out a good taste in salads and sauces.
One tablespoon of caraway seeds is equivalent to one spoonful of grounded celery seeds, so you shouldn’t find them daunting to include in your recipe.
10. Nigella Sativa Seeds
Nigella Sativa comes from a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family. They produce seeds with intense flavor, making them an ideal substitute for celery seeds.
Powdered Nigella Sativa works best in veggie dishes like potatoes.
11. Celery Flakes
You can use ½ tablespoons of celery flakes, and they are an excellent celery seed alternative.
The processing of the flakes involves drying celery stalks and leaves. Just wash them and put them in a warm area for them to de-moisturize.
While using them on food, remember since they are dry, they have a strong flavor. So avoid putting on too much and stick to the right amount.
12. Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds originated from the Southern Mediterranean region before they spread throughout the world.
They are crunchy with a unique licorice flavor that makes them perfect substitutes for celery seeds.
The best way to use fennel seeds in your food [2] is to pair them with onions and carrots. You can also use them for seasoning your delicacy.
13. Dill Weed
Dill weed contains a similar flavor to celery seeds. The best part, they are equivalent to celery seeds.
So, you shouldn’t find a hard time incorporating the weed into your recipe.
The weed has a citrus-like taste with grassy undertones. You can use them as pickles or soup in some dishes.
Note: Dill weed and dill seed are different in flavor.
Other Substitutes
Other than the above alternatives, there are also some other options you can choose from:
- 14. Celery Root
- 15. Celeriac Seed
- 16. Fresh Dill
- 17. Dill Seed
- 18. Star Anise
- 19. Capsaicin
- 20. Feverfew
- 21. Dandelion
- 22. Turmeric
- 23. Feverfew Seed
- 24. Hibiscus
Besides, you can also use celery substitutes since they’re similar to celery seed.
FAQs About Celery Seed
What does celery seed do in a recipe?
Celery seeds bring a strong celery flavor to your meal, such as salad dressing, coleslaw, etc.
Just as poppy seeds, celery seeds will add an impressive texture and flavor.
What can I substitute for celery seed in coleslaw?
Celery seed is an important ingredient in coleslaw, if you can’t find it when making coleslaw, then caraway seeds will be your best choice.
Coming with a nutty flavor with a bitter undertone, caraway seeds will bring out a good taste in coleslaw.
Can you use celery seed in place of celery in soup?
You can use celery seed as an alternative to celery in soup, but the flavor is different (the seeds are more bitter and produce an after taste).
Final Words
You can use the above substitutes to make your meals taste better if your celery seed runs out. They don’t change the texture of your food because it will taste almost the same.
Be creative and use them in dressing, sauces, soups, and foods.
