Celery Seed Substitute: 11 Best Alternatives

Celery seeds are a popular and flavorful spice used in many cuisines around the world. Though it has been popular in Asian cuisine, celery seeds are now also popular in the Western culinary world.

Rich in flavor and aroma, celery seed may give soups, stews, sauces, marinades, and salads an astonishing depth of flavor.

Unfortunately, this unique seasoning is not available to everyone. It might not be easy to find in your local grocery stores. But do not fret. We have your back.

I. What is celery seed? 

Celery seeds are harvested from wild celery. These small, dark brown seeds carry an earthy and bitter taste that adds a robust depth to dishes. 

From their origins in ancient Rome to their role in traditional medicine and modern cooking, celery seeds have a rich history and versatile usage. 

Celery seeds can enhance salad dressings and sauces or even be used in pickle recipes. For an extra flavor boost, combine celery seeds with coarse or kosher salt to create delightful celery salt.

II. 9 Best celery seed substitutes

If you’re seeking alternatives to celery seed due to its unavailability, numerous options exist. Also, if you wish to experiment with different flavors, there’s a wide variety to choose from. 

Here is a list of the top celery seed substitutions that, without sacrificing quality, add a distinctive celery flavor to your recipes: 

1. Caraway Seeds

Similar to celery seeds, caraway seeds have a mildly spicy, earthy, and bittersweet flavor. They are a great substitute for celery seed in many meals and are frequently used in rye bread.

2. Dill Seeds

Caraway and dill seeds are similar, except dill seeds have a milder flavor. They can be substituted for celery seeds in recipes that call for a softer flavor. Celery seeds can be easily replaced by fresh dill, especially in salads like potato salad and chicken salad.

3. Fennel Seeds

With a tinge of licorice and anise, fennel seeds have a flavor akin to celery seeds. This is mostly used in Indian cuisine and can add a distinctive flavor to any meal and dish in place of celery seeds.

4. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are different from the other selections on this list because of their bitter flavor and nutty flavor. Despite this, they can still be utilized to give some meals a distinctive edge by substituting them with celery seeds.

5. Cumin Seeds

Although they don’t quite have the same flavor as celery seeds, cumin seeds add a distinctive edge to recipes with their toasty and earthy flavor. However, they make a fantastic replacement for some dishes.

6. Star Anise Seeds

Star anise seeds work well as a stand-in for celery seeds in many recipes due to their licorice-like taste. Their distinctive flavor gives the dish an intriguing edge that might truly improve it.

7. Coriander Seed

As an unusual substitute for celery seeds, coriander seeds give food a distinctive lemony and somewhat sweet flavor. Although they don’t taste nearly the same, they can nevertheless be substituted in some recipes. Replace 1 tablespoon of celery seeds with one tablespoon of coriander seeds. You can also substitute celery seed with coriander leaves or finely chopped celery leaves too.

8. Parsley

Celery seed can be replaced with parsley, which gives food a mild, somewhat grassy flavor. It can still be used as a substitute in some recipes even if it isn’t seed and might not be as effective. However, due to its mildness, it won’t be able to replace all medications.

9. Nigella Seed

Nigella seeds are also known as black cumin, black caraway, or kalonji. If you don’t have celery seeds and want to use nigella seeds instead, keep in mind that nigella seeds have a milder and different flavor. They might work well as a replacement if the celery seed flavor isn’t a dominant element in the recipe.

III. Other readily available options for celery seed substitutes

Although celery seed is hard to replace, there are some readily available options available on the market. One of them is using fresh celery leaf but it cannot be used in all dishes. Here are some great celery seed alternatives to bring a unique celery flavor to your dishes.

1. Celery salt

Celery salt, which mixes salt and pulverized celery seeds, is the ideal method to give food a salty jolt while also adding a rich celery flavor.  In some recipes, its flavor works well as a stand-in for celery seed. However, keep in mind to completely exclude the common salt if your meal contains celery salt.

2. Celery flakes

Dried celery flakes can easily take the place of celery seeds in many recipes because they are essentially dried and crushed celery. You might need to use more of them in your dish because they have a milder flavor than the seeds do. When you don’t have access to celery seeds, celery flakes make a fantastic substitute for seasonings and pickling spices.