Cumin substitute

In chili and tacos, use chili powder, about the same amount as the cumin, since cumin is one of its main flavors. McCormick and The Spice House both suggest it. In curries and hummus, use ground coriander, curry powder or garam masala, starting with the same amount.

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  1. Chili powder (the blend)

    Great fit

    1 tsp chili powder

    For this dish: Chili powder already contains cumin, so it suits chili and tacos best.

    How: McCormick and The Spice House suggest about the same amount. Healthline says half as much, which is safer if you cannot taste as you cook. Cut back the salt, since many blends contain it.

    What changes: Adds chili heat, oregano, garlic and often salt. Pure chile powder (with an e) is a single ground chile and contains no cumin.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  2. Taco seasoning

    Great fit

    1 tsp taco seasoning

    For this dish: The Spice House suggests it first for chili and tacos.

    How: Start one for one and adjust for heat. Read the label and reduce the salt in the recipe, since most mixes are salted.

    What changes: Brings cumin plus chili, garlic, onion and salt.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  3. Ground coriander

    Works

    1 tsp ground coriander

    For this dish: It gives warmth but not cumin's distinct flavor.

    How: The Spice House says to use the same amount or a touch more. Sources differ, so taste as you go.

    What changes: Milder, sweeter and more citrusy, without cumin's heavy aroma.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  4. Caraway seeds, ground

    Works

    ½ tsp caraway seeds, ground

    For this dish: Closest in character, but the anise note shows.

    How: Grind or crush the seeds and start with half as much as the cumin, then add up to three quarters as much to taste.

    What changes: Looks and tastes related to cumin but with an anise-like note.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  5. Curry powder

    Avoid

    1 tsp curry powder

    For this dish: Turmeric and fenugreek pull chili away from its usual taste.

    How: Start with the same amount and taste.

    What changes: Contains cumin plus turmeric, coriander and other spices, so it turns the dish yellower.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  6. Garam masala

    Avoid

    1 tsp garam masala

    For this dish: The sweet spices do not suit chili or tacos.

    How: Start with the same amount and taste.

    What changes: Usually contains cumin, with warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom and pepper.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

Scores are our editorial judgement from the sources below, not lab tests.

What cumin does in a recipe

Cumin is a seed spice with an earthy, nutty, slightly lemony flavor and a strong aroma. It is the flavor people name in chili and tacos, and a base note in many curries, hummus, rubs and roasted vegetables. A substitute needs that warm earthiness; blends that contain cumin come closest.

Swap it in your recipe with Sous Chef

A substitution is more than one ingredient line. The steps that use it change too. Sous Chef edits both on a working copy of your recipe, so the original is always one tap away.

You ask Sous Chef

"I don't have cumin."

Sous Chef edits the recipe

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Added to the steps: McCormick and The Spice House suggest about the same amount. Healthline says half as much, which is safer if you cannot taste as you cook. Cut back the salt, since many blends contain it.
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When not to substitute

If cumin is the main flavor, as in a cumin-heavy chili or jeera rice, no swap tastes the same. A spice blend that contains cumin gets closest; single spices like coriander or caraway taste noticeably different.

Common questions

What can I use instead of cumin?

Chili powder or taco seasoning in chili and tacos, since both already contain cumin. In curries and hummus, use ground coriander, curry powder or garam masala. Start with the same amount and taste.

Can I use chili powder instead of cumin?

Yes. McCormick suggests a similar amount, since cumin is one of chili powder's main flavors. Healthline suggests half as much. Pure chile powder, a single ground chile, has no cumin in it.

Can I use coriander instead of cumin?

Yes, about the same amount or a touch more. Coriander is milder and more citrusy, so it works best in curries, hummus and spice rubs.

Can I use cumin seeds instead of ground cumin?

Yes. McCormick says whole cumin seeds ground in a coffee mill do the trick.

Related

Sources

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