Caraway is a unique spice with a flavor profile all its own. Because of this, there are only a handful of substitutes for caraway seeds that you can use in a pinch. Here are four of the best.
The best substitutes for caraway seeds are fennel seeds. Fennel has a mild licorice flavor similar to caraway. They are also aromatic and bursting with flavor.
This herb has a sweeter flavor than caraway and a much more intense licorice taste. It lacks the aromatic range of caraway and the delicate flavor profile.
This herb features the citrus flavors other caraway substitutes lack. It has some mild licorice undertones, too, but a slightly grassier taste than other options listed here.
Like aniseed, this spice has a strong licorice flavor and is often used as a cheap substitute for aniseed in the mass production of licorice candy and certain liqueurs.
This common spice sits somewhere between fennel and cumin. It has a tartness that stands in well for caraway’s citrus taste and an earthiness that emulates its nuttiness.