Substitutions

What can I use instead of ground coriander?

Q: Can I use ground cumin instead of ground coriander?

1 tsp ground coriander = 3/4 tsp ground cumin. The two are the standard pairing in most spice blends and belong to the same family, but cumin is heavier and more dominant, so use a little less. Earthier and more assertive, without coriander's citrus lift. The dish will feel heavier.

Q: Can I use garam masala instead of ground coriander?

1 tsp ground coriander = 3/4 tsp garam masala. Coriander is typically the largest component of a garam masala by volume, so a slightly smaller measure delivers a comparable amount of it. Adds cinnamon, clove and pepper, which suits a finished curry and overwhelms a simple vegetable dish.

The ground dried fruit of the coriander plant, warm and citrusy with a mild floral sweetness from linalool — it tastes nothing like the fresh leaves.

What it does in a recipe: A sweet, rounding spice that softens and lifts heavier ones, which is why it so often appears alongside cumin. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Coriander seed, Dhania powder

4substitutes

1close matches

Spicescategory

Quick answer

Whole coriander seed, toasted and ground

1 tsp whole coriander seed = about 1 1/4 tsp ground coriander

All substitutes, best first

4 ways to replace ground coriander

Whole coriander seed, toasted and ground

Closest match

1 tsp whole coriander seed = about 1 1/4 tsp ground coriander

Whole seeds are hollow and take up less room than the powder they yield, so a teaspoon of seed produces around a teaspoon and a quarter ground.

MethodToast briefly until the seeds smell of orange peel, then grind. The husks are papery and grind easily in a mortar.

Trade-offFar brighter than the pre-ground spice, whose linalool is largely gone within a few months.

CookingSaucesFryingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Ground cumin

Reliable

1 tsp ground coriander = 3/4 tsp ground cumin

The two are the standard pairing in most spice blends and belong to the same family, but cumin is heavier and more dominant, so use a little less.

Trade-offEarthier and more assertive, without coriander's citrus lift. The dish will feel heavier.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Ground caraway with a little lemon zest

In a pinch

1 tsp ground coriander = 1/2 tsp ground caraway + 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

Caraway supplies the seed-spice body from the same plant family and the zest restores the citrus note that defines coriander.

Trade-offThe anise character of caraway is more prominent than anything in coriander. Better in a stew than a dry rub.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Garam masala

Reliable

1 tsp ground coriander = 3/4 tsp garam masala

Coriander is typically the largest component of a garam masala by volume, so a slightly smaller measure delivers a comparable amount of it.

Trade-offAdds cinnamon, clove and pepper, which suits a finished curry and overwhelms a simple vegetable dish.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Allergen checkBlended masalas differ between producers and some use wheat flour or shared production lines. Check the packaging before cooking gluten-free, and where the allergy is medical, ask the manufacturer rather than relying on a recipe.

Worth knowing

Coriander seed and cilantro leaf come from one plant but share almost no aromatic compounds. A recipe calling for one is never satisfied by the other.

At a glance

Ground coriander in summary

Category	Spices
Job in a recipe	A sweet, rounding spice that softens and lifts heavier ones, which is why it so often appears alongside cumin
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 spices

Black pepper4 substitutes Cayenne pepper4 substitutes Chili powder4 substitutes Fennel seed4 substitutes Five-spice powder4 substitutes Garam masala4 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.