Skip to Content

Savory Tweaks: 5 BEST Fennel Seeds Substitutes

Are you looking for a fennel seed substitute in your cooking? You’ve come to the right place.

As a mild-flavored, anise-scented seed, fennel adds depth and complexity to recipes, but it isn’t always easy to find.

Read on for five great options that can help you deliver big flavor with minimal effort.

What’s Fennel Seed?

Fennel seed, derived from the fennel plant, has a pleasant anise-like flavor, which adds a distinctive taste to food.

It can be used whole, ground or as a flavoring in many dishes.

Fennel has long been found in Mediterranean cuisine and is widely used around the world today in baking and cooking recipes alike.

When selecting fennel seeds for your recipes, look for those with an even color and aroma.

Store them in a sealed container away from heat or light for up to six months.

To grind fennel seeds at home use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle; store any unused ground fennel for no more than one month.

It’s easy to incorporate fennel in your daily cooking routine — simply add a teaspoon of whole seeds to stews, salad dressings and marinades; add ground fennel to baked goods like breads as well as biscuits and cookies; or sprinkle it on fish dishes and vegetables before roasting or sautéing them.

Whole or ground, adding fennel seed can enliven many traditional recipes.

Here are some tips on using it:

  • Add whole seeds during preparations that require lengthy cooking time like soups and stews — their flavor will gradually release throughout the cooking process.
  • For delicately flavored dishes such as fish, mix finely-ground fennel seed with other herbs like tarragon before sprinkling over food just before serving — this allows the essential oils of the herbs to get fully mixed in and infuse flavor without much cooking loss.
  • To extract maximum flavor from their delicate flavor compounds, use freshly-ground fennel seed in roasted recipes like cakes and desserts.
  • For maximum health benefits when adding with salads or other healthy sides add near the end of preparation process so nutrients are retained through servings.

5 Best Fennel Seeds Substitutes to Consider

Finding the perfect alternative to fennel seeds can seem daunting, as this unique seed adds a unique flavor to all sorts of dishes.

Fortunately, whether you’re out of fennel seeds or want to try something new, there are several substitutes for fennel that work well in similar foods.

When substituting ingredients, it helps to consider the food’s overall flavor profile — in this case, an herbaceous licorice-like taste — in order to find alternatives that pair well with other ingredients.

Below are some of the best substitutes for fennel seeds:

1 – Anise Seeds

Anise seeds are the most common substitute for fennel seed, as both spices have a very similar flavor.

Anise has a mild licorice taste, with subtle notes of pepper and star anise.

Not only does it provide a close approximation of the flavor, but it also has a similar shape and size to fennel seed.

Anise adds complexity to salads, soups, and fish or pork recipes, or can be used in baked goods.

When substituting anise for fennel seed in recipes, use half the amount as you would fennel seed – the flavor is stronger than that of fennel and can quickly overpower a dish.

2 – Caraway Seeds

Caraway seeds have a flavor that is similar to fennel; they are slightly sweet, and their aroma is slightly grassy.

The main difference between caraway and fennel seeds is the strength of the anise and licorice undertones — caraway has milder anise and licorice notes.

Caraway is most commonly used in Irish soda bread and other savory baked goods like Rye breads, but you can use it in other savory dishes like stews and roasts.

Be sure to keep in mind that caraway has a stronger flavor than fennel so you may need to use less of it when substituting for fennel.

To substitute caraway for fennel use 1/2 teaspoon of caraway per teaspoon of fennel seed, or about two parts caraway for every three parts of fennel.

3 – Dill Seeds

Dill seeds are the perfect substitute for fennel seeds if you’re looking for the same flavor effects.

They are available whole or ground, and both versions will work equally well in place of fennel seeds.

Dill is closely related to fennel, which is why it makes such a convincing duplicate.

Whole dill seeds have an unmistakable aroma, flavorful and reminiscent of caraway but also with hints of citrus.

The ground variety is perfect for rubs and marinades.

In terms of nutrition, dill is a good source of calcium, iron and vitamin C.

4 – Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds are darker than fennel seeds and have a pungent aroma with a warm, earthy flavor.

They can be used as a substitute for fennel seed in recipes.

While the flavors are different, cumin has very similar nutritional benefits to fennel and provides an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, vitamin C, selenium, calcium and magnesium.

For every teaspoon of fennel seed called for in your recipe you can use up to three teaspoons of ground cumin instead.

Be aware that this substitution will result in an intense flavor and it is best used when cooking dishes with time-honored flavor combinations like Indian or Mexican cuisine.

5 – Fresh Fennel and Fennel Fronds

Fresh fennel, which is the vegetable-like bulb of the fennel plant, can be used as a substitute for ground or whole fennel seeds.

The bulb of the fresh fennel is crunchy and slightly sweet in flavor.

The fronds are tender and similar to dill in taste.

To use fresh fennel as a substitute for seeds, chop the bulb finely or grind it into a paste.

Many classic Italian dishes such as osso buco and pork scaloppini call for freshly ground fennel instead of seeds.

Freshly chopped or ground fresh fennel may be substituted for fennel seed at a ratio of 1 tablespoon of chopped/ground fresh bulb per teaspoon of crushed seed.

Alternatively, add one part fronds to three parts other herbs such as parsley when substituting in salads or other recipes requiring only the fronds.

Conclusion

When it comes to using a suitable substitute for fennel seed, the key is to choose an ingredient that will provide a similar flavor profile.

To recap, the five of the best substitutes for fennel seed include caraway seeds, celery seed, anise seed, dill seeds and crushed juniper berries.

While each of these options provides a unique flavor profile that differs from pure fennel seeds, they are all valuable additions to your culinary arsenal.

The most important thing is to select a substitute based on desired taste and texture.

As you explore different substitutions for fennel seed and apply them in various recipes, you’ll find which option works best for you and your food.

So go ahead and start experimenting today – your culinary adventure awaits.

5 Best Fennel Seeds Substitutes to Consider

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Substitutes
Cuisine Classic

Ingredients
  

  • 1 – Anise Seeds
  • 2 – Caraway Seeds
  • 3 – Dill Seeds
  • 4 – Cumin Seeds
  • 5 – Fresh Fennel and Fennel Fronds

Instructions
 

  • Choose your preferred substitute from the list of options.
  • Organize all of your ingredients.
  • Use the proper substitute to cook your recipes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!