13 Common Onion Substitutes in Soup You Can Easily Find

Onions are one of the most frequent vegetables used in soups and meals. They may provide texture, taste, and a pleasant scent to any soup or meal you are creating. But what if you run out of onion or for some reason can’t use it in your soup?

You don’t have to be concerned since there are several onion replacements that you may use in your soup. Some kitchen staples and items have similar taste profiles to onions, making them viable alternatives.

The following are some of the greatest onion substitutes:

1. Onion Flakes
2. Onion Salt
3. Garlic
4. Scallions
5. Chives
6. Fennel
7. Leeks
8. Sweet Potatoes Or Tomatoes
9. Celery
10. Carrots
11. Shallots
12. Cabbage

Continue reading to learn about alternatives to onions, which are recognized for their sweet, fragrant, and savory qualities.

Top 13 Substitutes For Onion

Onion Flakes

Onion flakes are made from dried onions and have the same flavor as fresh onions. Onion flakes contain extremely concentrated tastes that may improve the flavor of soups and other foods.

Aside from soups, onion flakes may be used in pizza dishes, sauces, salads, dressings, and dips. If you prefer to use onion flakes instead of onion, use three teaspoons to replace one cup of onion.

Onion Salt

Onion salt is a spice made from dried powdered onion and salt. What’s great about onion salt is that it goes nicely with other ingredients.

This implies that it improves the taste of your meals without interfering with the overall texture. However, since it includes salt, it is saltier than fresh onions.

Nonetheless, you’ll be pleased to learn that it may bring out the powerful and pungent taste of onion, as well as its fragrance. When making soups and stews, onion salt may be used as an onion replacement.

It’s also great in stir-fries, marinades, and vegetable dishes. If you run out of onions, just use onion salt if you have some on hand. For every cup of onion, use about two teaspoons of this seasoning.

Garlic

Garlic is also an easy and economical onion alternative in soups. It has an earthy taste and a wonderful spicy heat that may enhance soups and foods.

Another advantage of garlic is that it may be eaten either cooked or raw. It works well as an onion replacement in soups, marinades, stews, and salad dressings.

To replicate the flavor, replace one cup of onion with about two and one-third cups of garlic. Garlic is not only a tasty spice for stews and soups, but it is also healthy for your health.

It has the potential to boost the health of your skin and bones. It may also help to avoid heart disease.

Scallions

Scallions may also be used in place of onions. Scallions, also known as spring or green onions, have a milder flavor than other varieties of onions.

Scallions have green leaves and white bulbs that may be used and consumed both cooked and raw. They have a crisp, somewhat peppery taste that is comparable to onions.

Because of their peppery and spicy taste, they make excellent complements to soups, stir-fry, and cucumber salad. You may use three tablespoons chopped scallions for one medium-sized onion.

Just be careful not to cook onions for too long since they burn quickly.

Chives

Chives are also excellent substitutes for onions, particularly if you want something with a softer flavor. Chives have a distinct onion flavor, although not as strong as the latter.

By using chives instead of onion, you can undoubtedly add a dash of flavor to your soup recipes and other foods without making them too overbearing.

As a general rule, three tablespoons of chives would be an adequate alternative for one tablespoon of minced onion.

Fennel

Fennel, whether cooked or raw, may also be used in meals that call for onion. When raw, expect it to have a strong licorice flavor, making it an excellent complement to salads that need the crisp texture of onion.

Cooked fennel, on the other hand, has a texture similar to cooked onions. It also has a softer flavor. As a result, if you are allergic to onions, it is an excellent substitute.

One cup of chopped fennel bulb may replace one cup of minced onion.

Leeks

Leeks are also excellent substitutes for onions, owing to their same genus. This is also why leeks have the same oniony flavor with a pleasant tinge of sweetness.

The advantage of using leeks in soups and meals is that they may enhance the taste profile. This onion replacement is also enough for adding some depth to your dish.

Leeks will have a milder taste when cooked. It is also a flexible alternative that may be used in a variety of cooking techniques and cuisines, including as soups, pizzas, pasta, and risottos.

Sweet Potatoes or Tomatoes

Onions are often used in the preparation of big substantial meals such as soup and curries. If, for some reason, you are unable to utilize this ingredient, you will notice that eliminating it from the dish will simply thin it out.

After removing the onion, add chopped vegetables like sweet potatoes and tomatoes to bulk out the dish again.

Celery

Celery is another well-known onion alternative. Because of its earthy peppery flavor and crispy texture, it is a popular vegetable in a variety of recipes.

Long celery stalks will undoubtedly come in handy not just in soups, but also in stews, sauces, casseroles, stocks, salads, and stir-fries. They taste much better when combined with bell peppers and carrots.

Celery leaves are also recognized for having a firmer texture and a stronger flavor than celery stalks. You may be certain in their capacity to enhance the taste of your soups and other foods.

Replace one cup of chopped onion with one cup of chopped celery as an onion replacement.

Carrots

Carrots are also an excellent substitute for onions. Carrots may not have the same flavor as onions, but they do have a crisp texture that is similar.

If you don’t have any onions, search for carrots in your kitchen. They will be excellent substitutes for onions in soups, sautés, and stir-fry dishes.

Quick Reminder

Carrot has a natural flavor that is a mix between bitter and sweet. This necessitates combining carrots and chopped celery in your recipes to simulate the flavor of onions.

It is strongly advised to use two cups of chopped carrots for one cup of onion. What’s nice about carrots is that they’re high in minerals and vitamins, which may assist boost your overall health.

Shallots

You’ll also be surprised at how delicious shallots are as onion replacements. Although their tastes are not as powerful as onions, they do have a biting accent.

Shallots are also known for their sweet and aromatic overtones, as well as their garlicky qualities. All of these characteristics cause them to function similarly to onions.

If your soup recipes ask for a cup of onion but you don’t have any on hand, substitute one cup of chopped shallots.

Cabbage

Cabbage is an excellent and inexpensive substitute for onions in soup recipes. Although cabbage may not have the same flavor as onions, it will work well in recipes that call for the latter.

When you consume raw cabbage, it has a crisp texture and a somewhat bitter flavor.

When cooked, it has the incredible capacity to absorb the tastes of every item you add to your dishes, including spices and herbs. Cabbage, when prepared properly, can generate an excellent flavor.

This vegetable is also quite adaptable, since it may be used in a variety of cuisines.

When it comes to employing cabbage as an onion alternative, keep in mind that it has a milder flavor than the latter. This means you’ll need to add additional thinly cut cabbage to replace the onion.

Onion Substitute Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What can onions do in soups?

Onions are excellent additions to any soup recipe because they provide texture and taste. Onions may be used in both sweet and savory meals, and they come in a variety of hues, including red, yellow, and white.

Onions may also help to make soups healthier. This is because this vegetable has several health advantages, including boosting immunity, enhancing heart health, combating free radicals, encouraging improved digestive health, and increasing bone density. [Source]

This does not imply you can no longer use onions in your dishes; there are healthy substitutes if you can’t use them.

Can I use onion salt in place of onion?

Yes, onion salt may be used as a substitute for onion. It might provide a little onion taste to your food.

The great thing about onion salt is that it can be used in a variety of dishes, including soups, breads, salad dressings, and dry rubs.

Can I cook soup recipes without onions?

Yes. Even if your soup recipe asks for an onion, it’s OK to leave it out if you don’t have any on hand or if you don’t like the taste of onion in your meals.

However, you may lose out on the rich tastes and wonderful texture that onions may provide to your meal.

In the absence of onions, you can still bring out the greatest tastes and add a wonderful texture to your dishes by using any of its best replacements.

Why should you substitute onions?

There are many reasons why replacing onions with other ingredients is a smart idea. One explanation is that onions have the capacity to cause your eyes tear up or wet.

Some individuals detest onions because they feel they create foul breath, however this may be mitigated by eating particular fruits, such as apples, or drinking water after meals.

If you are allergic to onions, you should avoid using them and replace them with anything else. If you are allergic to onions, you may substitute celery or another item that is not in the onion family.

How can I lessen the pungent taste of onion?

If the strong and pungent flavor of onions bothers you, you may reduce it instead of utilizing replacements. You may do this by first pickling raw onions in vinegar or another acidic liquid for few minutes. Another way is to wash the onions with water.

If you can’t stand the sharp flavor of onions or are sensitive to them, try some of the most popular onion replacements.