Substitutions

What can I use instead of fresh parsley?

Q: Can I use celery leaves instead of fresh parsley?

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped celery leaves. The pale inner leaves of a celery head carry the same grassy, faintly bitter freshness as parsley, and both plants sit in the Apiaceae family. A little more bitter and more obviously celery-scented, which is welcome in soups and stocks and less so on fish.

Q: Can I use fresh chervil instead of fresh parsley?

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped fresh chervil. Chervil is another mild Apiaceae herb with the same green delicacy, plus a faint aniseed note that does not fight anything parsley would be used in. Softer and more perfumed. Chervil also wilts far faster, so it will not hold up as a garnish on a hot plate.

A mild, grassy, faintly peppery herb sold in large bunches, used more for freshness and green colour than for a distinct flavour of its own.

What it does in a recipe: A clean green lift and a colour finish — it brightens rich or fatty dishes without imposing a flavour of its own. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Flat-leaf parsley, Italian parsley, Curly parsley

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Herbscategory

Quick answer

Celery leaves

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped celery leaves

All substitutes, best first

4 ways to replace fresh parsley

Celery leaves

Reliable

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped celery leaves

The pale inner leaves of a celery head carry the same grassy, faintly bitter freshness as parsley, and both plants sit in the Apiaceae family.

MethodUse the tender inner leaves, not the tough dark outer ones, and add them at the end.

Trade-offA little more bitter and more obviously celery-scented, which is welcome in soups and stocks and less so on fish.

CookingRaw / no-cookSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Fresh chervil

Reliable

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped fresh chervil

Chervil is another mild Apiaceae herb with the same green delicacy, plus a faint aniseed note that does not fight anything parsley would be used in.

Trade-offSofter and more perfumed. Chervil also wilts far faster, so it will not hold up as a garnish on a hot plate.

Raw / no-cookSaucesCookingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Fresh cilantro

In a pinch

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves

This is a colour and texture match only. Cilantro's flavour comes from unsaturated aldehydes that parsley does not contain, so it does not taste anything like parsley.

Trade-offThe dish will taste distinctly different, and to the substantial minority who perceive cilantro as soapy it may taste wrong. Use it only where the cuisine already welcomes cilantro.

Raw / no-cookCookingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Fresh carrot tops

In a pinch

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley = 1 tbsp finely chopped carrot tops

Carrot greens are close relatives of parsley and share the same grassy, slightly bitter green note, which is why they work in a salsa verde.

MethodChop finely and taste as you go — they are more bitter than parsley and the stems are tough.

Trade-offMore bitter and coarser in texture. Best blended into a sauce rather than scattered over a finished plate.

SaucesRaw / no-cookCookingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Worth knowing

Dried parsley is the weakest of the common dried herbs — it keeps the green colour and gives up almost all the flavour. Treat it as a garnish, not a seasoning.

At a glance

Fresh parsley in summary

Category	Herbs
Job in a recipe	A clean green lift and a colour finish — it brightens rich or fatty dishes without imposing a flavour of its own
Suits	Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free
Swaps available for	Dairy-free Egg-free Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Vegan Vegetarian
Number of substitutes	4

More herbs

Bay leaf4 substitutes Curry leaves4 substitutes Dried basil4 substitutes Dried oregano4 substitutes Dried thyme4 substitutes Fresh basil4 substitutes

Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.