It can be frustrating having to cancel your culinary plans due to a missing ingredient, such as granulated onion.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t help add flavor and depth overall – there are simple options to substitute for granulated onion in your kitchen!
In this blog post, we will review the basics of what makes up granulated onion and several alternatives you could use instead.
Read on to discover some easy-to-find reliable substitutes.
What Is Granulated Onion?
Granulated onion is a form of dried onion that has been finely chopped and dehydrated.
It is available in most grocery stores and can be an alternative to fresh onions in various dishes.
The intense flavor of granulated onion makes it an ideal seasoning for soups, stews, casseroles, meats, poultry, and vegetable dishes.
It can also be used as a garnish for pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and dips.
Granulated onion has a much longer shelf-life than fresh onions, making it the perfect condiment to have on hand.
Substitutes For Granulated Onion
Several options are available if you’re looking for a substitute for granulated onion.
Shallots
Shallots are small, elongated onions that have a mild flavor.
They look similar to green onions or scallions but have a more delicate flavor than either.
In the kitchen, shallots can be used interchangeably with onions in most recipes and are often preferred for their milder flavor.
Shallots can be sautéed, roasted, or caramelized and added to soups, stews, casseroles, or salads.
They can also be used to flavor sauces, dressings, and marinades.
When buying shallots, look for firm bulbs free of blemishes or soft spots.
Shallots should be stored in a cool, dry place where they will keep for several weeks. They can also be stored in the refrigerator if necessary.
Scallions
Scallions, also known as green or spring onions, are a mild-flavored onion variety that can be used in cooking.
They have a white base and long green tops and can be bought fresh or pre-chopped in containers.
Scallions add flavor to dishes without overpowering the other ingredients, making them a versatile choice for many recipes.
They can be used raw in salads or cooked and added to soups, stir-fries, and other dishes.
Scallions are also a great topping for tacos, omelets, sandwiches, pizzas, and more.
Celery
Celery is a popular vegetable in many cuisines. It has long, bright green stalks that add flavor and texture to dishes.
The leaves and stems of celery are usually chopped up into small pieces for use in salads, soups, stews, stir-fries, casseroles, and other cooked dishes.
Celery is also an important part of many sauces and seasonings.
Celery adds a unique flavor to dishes, as well as crunch and added nutrition.
Fennel Bulbs
Fennel bulbs are the bulb-shaped part of the fennel plant. They have a mild licorice or anise flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Fennel bulbs are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, so they can add nutrition as well as flavor when added to your diet.
Fennel bulbs are used in many different recipes and dishes.
When cooked, they can add texture and flavor to salads, soups, stews, roasts, side dishes, and even bread.
They can also be pickled, sautéed, braised, or pureed to make a delicious addition to any dish.
Fennel can be used as an aromatic to season stocks and sauces, added to roasted vegetables for extra flavor, and thinly sliced into salads for a fresh crunchy texture.
To prepare fennel bulbs for cooking, trim the stalks and slice off the root end.
The bulbs can then be sliced, diced, or shredded, depending on how they will be used in a dish.
Grated Onion
Grated onion is a finely chopped onion cut into very small pieces. Grated onion adds a savory aroma and taste to any dish.
It’s also a great way to get more nutrition from your food since it’s low-calorie and packed with vitamins and minerals.
Grated onion can be used in various recipes, such as soups and stews, salads, stir-fries, casseroles, curries, relishes and salsas.
Grated onion can also be added raw to sandwiches, tacos and burgers for a flavorful crunch.
When grating onions, it is important to use a fine grater to get the most flavor.
It’s best to grate the onion before adding it to your dish – this will help preserve its fresh flavor.
Onion Salt
You can use onion salt to substitute for granulated onion. Onion salt is a mixture of dried, ground onion and salt.
Onion salt has a strong taste that enhances the flavors of other ingredients in the dish.
It can be added during cooking or sprinkled on top after cooking to add flavor.
It is used as a seasoning to add flavor to dishes such as salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups, stews, casseroles and sauces.
Onion salt should be used sparingly, as it has a strong salty flavor that can easily overpower other ingredients.
It’s important to taste the dish periodically while cooking to adjust the seasoning and balance flavors.
Onion salt is a great way to add flavor without additional calories or fat.
Garlic Salt
Garlic salt combines ground garlic cloves and table salt with various other ingredients.
Garlic salt is also popularly used for bread dipping or sprinkled on top of pizza.
The pungent aroma and flavor of garlic salt make it an ideal seasoning for any recipe.
It can add flavor to various culinary dishes, such as pasta, potatoes, meats, fish, salads, vegetables and soups.
When used in small quantities, garlic salt can provide the perfect zest and savor to your favorite dishes.
However, if too much is used, it can overpower the other flavors in a dish.
FAQs
Can You Replace Granulated Onion With Onion Powder?
Yes, you can replace granulated onion with onion powder in recipes.
Granulated onion is simply dehydrated onions that have been ground into a fine texture, and it’s commonly used in dry rubs or other seasoning blends.
Can Onion Salt Replace Granulated Onion?
Yes, onion salt can be used as a replacement for granulated onion in many recipes.
However, remember that onion salt contains added salt; therefore, you may need to adjust the amount of additional salt used in your recipe accordingly.
Can You Replace Fresh Onion With Granulated Onion?
Yes, you can replace fresh onion with granulated onion if necessary.
The taste and texture will differ slightly, but it should still work in most recipes.
Just make sure to reduce the granulated onion you use since it is more concentrated than fresh onions.
Conclusion
Granulated onion is a flavorful, versatile seasoning that can be used in various dishes.
Shallots, scallions, celery, fennel bulbs, grated onion and garlic salt are all suitable options to substitute for granulated onion if you ever need one.
Regardless of your choice, these ingredients can easily add flavor and texture to your recipes.
Be sure to taste the dish periodically while cooking and adjust the seasoning with each addition to create a balanced flavor profile.
With these options, you can be sure your next dish will be flavorful and delicious!
