9 Best Chives Substitutes That You Can Try

Are you fond of seasoning your food with various fresh and dried herbs? Then, I am sure you must be a fan of chives. Chives are an essential herb in many kitchens. In today’s article, I will help you explore the best chives substitutes. 

The chive could be the best herb on your list. But what if you run out of it unexpectedly? In that scenario, why not try a chive substitute? The greatest chive substitutes can give you a similar flavor while saving you time and effort!

Wait! Are you confused about choosing the right sweet paprika substitute? It looks like you are! Worry no more. Scallions, leeks, barlauch, shallots, onion, and garlic are some of our favorite chives substitutes.

However, before we go into the substitutes, let me provide you with some basic information. This will undoubtedly assist you in better comprehending its flavor profile!

Quick Peek: Chives

Chives add a fresh flavor to your dish. This section covers everything you need to know about chives! You’ll learn about the herb’s flavor and texture, uses, and even nutritional facts! So, let’s have a look at chives!

What Are Chives?

Chives is an edible herb belonging to the allium family. Chives are close relatives of onions, leeks, and garlic. Chives have been in use around the world for a really long time.

Chives are flowering plants. Mostly, we use its leaves and stem for eating. However, it also has edible flowers. The stem of chives is green, long, and hollow. They grow in a bunch and are easy to maintain.

Common chives and Chinese chives are the two most common types of chives. What we usually use is mostly common chives. Chinese chives are longer and much flatter than normal chives.

Describing Chives: Flavor and Texture

Chives have a faint onion flavor to them. It’s typically used as a garnish. Chives pair well with savory and spicy foods.

Chives are available in both fresh and dried varieties. The texture of both of these is really crispy. Fresh chives, on the other hand, are crunchier than dried chives. When the dry one is added to a dish, it becomes crumbly.

Chives smell exactly like the taste. It smells like an onion with a crisp herbal undertone. Unlike onions, the aroma of chives is not overpowering. When added to a meal, it provides a wonderful aroma and flavor, and texture.

Uses Of Chives

Chives are most commonly used to garnish savory dishes. It is available in both fresh and dried forms. Furthermore, chives’ applications are not confined to a single cuisine.

It is widely used around the world, including in the Mediterranean, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. It’s also a very common ingredient in soups, stews, and savory sauces. It can also be used to flavor savory baked goods and liqueurs.

Chives also give a splash of color to a dish. It has a plethora of health benefits in addition to being a star culinary element.

Chives On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Chives, being an herb used for seasoning, are generally used in very small quantities in various recipes. However, it has a lot of health benefits and was used for various medicinal purposes in ancient times. 

Chives have been used as a medicinal plant for a really long time. The Roman poet Valerius Martialis, in his epigram, says, “He who bears chives on his breath is safe from being kissed to death.”

Chives are said to have health benefits such as potential pain-relieving properties and antimicrobial properties and can also help with some skin conditions like eczema and acne. Moreover, it is a natural insect repellent and a cough suppressant. 

Chives contain a lot of vitamins like A, E, and K, along with many antioxidants. Chives are not only good for humans but also for animals. Early Roman farmers fed their cows with chives to give medicinal property to their milk.

Why Use A Substitute For Chives?

I’m sure this question may have come up in your mind at least once by now. Why would you want to use a substitute when you can just utilize chives? So, here are a few reasons you might consider utilizing a substitute.

To begin with, if you are tired of the flavor of chives but want something that tastes similar in your food, a substitution is quite useful. Furthermore, if chives are tough to come by in your location, a substitution would be ideal.

Lastly, if you end up realizing at the last moment that your recipe calls for chives, and you don’t seem to have any, why run to the store? Most of the substitutes are probably already present in your pantry! This is also a good enough reason to consider using a substitute. 

I think I have given you ample information about chives. Now, let me directly take you to the main attraction of this article, the best chives substitutes. Read the next section to know all about them!

9 Best Chives Substitutes

This section has the best substitutes for chives. Moreover, you will also get to understand how to use each substitute. Read this section to know all about it.

1. Scallions

A scallion is nothing but a spring onion. Scallions are an excellent chive substitute as they have a very mild onion flavor and a similar appearance to that of chives. 

Scallion can be used in place of chive in practically all meals. Scallions, like chives, can be used as a garnishing replacement or as a main element. In addition, spring onion is a common cooking herb.

When used as a chives substitute, scallion can be substituted for chive in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for dried chives and only has fresh spring onions, try substituting twice the amount.

2. Leeks

Leeks have a strong flavor when compared to chives. However, when cooked, they become extremely mild with a peppery flavor. Therefore, leeks are an excellent chives substitute in multiple dishes.

The flavor of leeks is comparable to that of chives. However, when compared to chives, it has a stronger flavor. It can be used to replace recipes that call for a strong herb flavor.

If you’re using it as a substitute, you can use a 1:1 ratio to use fresh for fresh and dried for dried. If you’re substituting dry for fresh, use half the amount; if you’re substituting fresh for dry, use double the leeks.

3. Barlauch

Barlauch is commonly known as wild garlic. Barlauch has a garlic flavor profile that is very close to chives. Hence, Barlaunch can be considered a good substitute for chives.

Ramsons, wood garlic, bear leek, and buckrams are all names for barlauch. Even though it has a flavor profile that is extremely similar to chives, it has a tarragon-like appearance.

Cut the ramson into extremely thin slices to use as a chives substitute. This will give the dish a comparable flavor while also brightening its appearance. When substituting, keep a 1:1 ratio in mind.

4. Shallots

Shallots are mild in flavor and add a crunchy texture when used as a garnish. Hence, it can be used as a chives substitute.

Shallot is excellent as a fresh chives substitute. They have a mild yet peppery flavor. However, it may affect the dish’s flavor when used in large quantities. Therefore, use them in small quantities when using them as a fresh garnish.

5. Onions

Onions undoubtedly have a strong onion flavor. It is an excellent garnish as well as a tasty enhancer. Hence, it can be regarded as a good chives substitute.

Onions are frequently served with fish and chicken. As a result, in recipes for either of these meats, you can easily substitute onion for chives. In addition, onions, like chives, provide a variety of health benefits.

Chives are typically added to a dish after it has been cooked. This preserves the freshness and flavor of the product. When using onion as a substitute, the onion should be cooked or at the very least sifted in oil for a period of time to bring out its flavor.

6. Garlic

Garlic has a very strong flavor profile and, when used in moderation, works great as a chives substitute. Unlike chives, garlic has a very strong taste. It is somewhere between the onion taste combined with pepper. However, when used as a chives substitute, it should be used in a very small quantity.

Garlic can be used as a garnishing element. But to get its best flavor, it is advisable to cook it for some time with the dish. However, if you need a different flavor, you can even try burnt garlic or garlic powder in a dish.

7. Dried Chives

Chives are commonly used in both fresh and dried forms. If you don’t have fresh chives on hand, you may easily replace them with dried chives. Therefore, dried chives are one of the best fresh chives substitutes.

Although both fresh and dried chives come from the same plant, they do not have the same flavor. Fresh chives are substantially stronger than dried chives in terms of scent and flavor. 

When adding to your favorite dish, replace one teaspoon of fresh chives with one tablespoon of dried chives.

8. Celery

Celery does not belong to the onion family. When compared to chives, it has a somewhat different texture and flavor profile. It is, however, nutrient-dense and can be used as a chives substitute in some recipes.

For recipes that require cooking, such as soups and stews, celery may not be the best substitute. This is because overcooked celery becomes incredibly mushy. However, celery works as a great chives substitute in salads. Celery adds a lot of freshness to salads. Celery can be used as a substitute for a 1:1 ratio.

9. Parsley

 Parsley has a strong herb flavor and a fresh, crunchy texture. It works well with most dishes. Therefore, it can be regarded as one of the best chives substitutes.

Parsley has a spicy taste and a fresh green scent. Both dried and fresh are commonly utilized. Parsley is very delicious when eaten raw. It is also employed as a garnishing item because of its strong flavor and aroma. In a 1:1 ratio, parsley can be substituted for chives in a dish when used as a chives substitute.

Short Recap For Best Chives Substitutes 

Are you still confused about which of these substitutes you should choose? Don’t worry; here’s a little clip that may assist you in escaping this difficult predicament.

Most appropriate: Dried chives are the most acceptable chives substitute since they can practically match the flavor and taste of chives.

Easily accessible: Spring onion is the most readily accessible option. Even if they don’t have the same flavor as chives, they can be used safely for garnishing, vegetable salads, and non-vegetarian dishes.

Best flavor combination: When barlauch is employed, the flavor profile is the best.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found the answers you were seeking now that we’ve reached the end of the post. Chives are versatile ingredients that add a new dimension to various meals. 

Although most of the listed ingredients can be used as chive substitutes, there is no precise match for chive. However, if you know of any other alternatives to the ones listed above, please share them in the comments area.

How To Substitute The Above Mentioned Ingredients For Chives

Chives Substitutes

Here is how you can substitute the above mentioned ingredients for chives.

• Leeks
• Barlauch
• Shallots
• Onion
• Garlic
• Celery
• Dry Chives
• Parsley

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe

• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.

• Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)