Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, with a history as rich as its price tag. Cleopatra was said to use the spice for make-up when she wasn’t caught bathing in it.
So why is saffron so expensive?
To make just 1 pound of saffron, around 200,000 hand-picked crocus flowers are needed. The plant itself only grows in specific climates and is considered quite a rare species.
For those who aren’t in the same social class as Cleopatra, saffron is a luxury that is a little outside the weekly shop budget. Though there are a handful of more affordable spices you can use instead.
Our 4 Cheap Substitutes for Saffron
If you were to feed saffron to 100 people, each person would report a slightly different taste. Some may say it is too bitter, others too sweet.
For the most part, saffron is considered a very earthy spice with a sweet, floral undertone. Essentially, everyone agrees that saffron’s flavour is as complex as it is rich.
Saffron is most well-known for its vibrant golden colour that can turn a bland dish into a stunning showstopper.
Here are our 4 cheap substitutes for saffron:
1) Annatto
Finding annatto in the supermarket will be more challenging than finding saffron, but the effort will be well worth the money you save.
Annatto originates from the Caribbean and Latin America, where it has earned the nickname ‘poor man’s saffron’.
Typically, annatto is used as a dye but is also a popular spice that can help to highlight other flavours in your dish. The spice, like saffron, is mildly sweet but has a peppery heat and nutty notes.
What Type of Annatto is Best?
Annatto is mainly sold as a paste or powder. When replacing saffron, stick with annatto powder for a more direct substitution.
2) Turmeric
Many spice-gurus online will suggest turmeric as the best saffron substitute. But this is mainly because of the same visual impact that turmeric can have on a dish as saffron.
As part of the ginger family, turmeric has a distinct earthiness that can live up to that of saffron. For the same reason, turmeric has a peppery hint that replaced saffron’s sweetness.
It may seem like a small change in taste, but it can make a noticeable difference in your dish. Especially for those who are not a fan of peppery heats.
Does Turmeric Turn Food the Same Colour as Saffron?
A testament to its price tag, saffron will dye your food a rich, golden hue. Turmeric still provides a vibrant colour but is more yellow/ orange than golden, depending on how much you use.
3) Sweet Paprika
The most common spice on this list, sweet paprika has the ideal level of sweetness to brighten your dish without completely disbalancing your dish’s more delicate flavours.
Paprika is not a floral spice like saffron nor as earthy. However, its vivid red colour and mild sweetness are close enough to saffron to make a reasonable replacement in most saffron dishes.
Isn’t Paprika Spicy?
Sweet paprika is made using sweet red peppers, not chilli peppers. Stick with sweet paprika instead of other paprika variants, and you won’t have to worry about making your dish spicy.
4) Golchin Saffron Liquid
Golchin saffron liquid is saffron mixed with water and oil. As you would expect, the saffron flavour is diluted to the point where some people cannot taste the saffron at all.
However, when you use enough of the liquid, you can create a saffron taste in your dish that is notable even if it is not as impactful as regular saffron.
Finding golchin saffron liquid can be tricky so your best bet is an online retailer or speciality store.
Know Your Ratios
Use up to 10 drops of golchin saffron liquid for every pinch of saffron. Any more and you risk adding too much moisture to your dish.
Other Substitutes for Saffron
Rarely will you find saffron in a spice blend as it is such a stand-alone, impactful spice that already costs a fortune, never mind when mixed with other expensive spices. That being said, spice blends are a great way to give your dish a complex flavour like saffron.
Here are a few spice blends you can use to replace saffron:
- Curry Powder – Like saffron, curry powder is a popular ingredient used in Eastern cooking. Its main ingredients include turmeric and ginger, so there is that specific earthiness similar to saffron, though the taste is much stronger. Only use curry powder at a 1/2 ratio to saffron.
- Sazón – It may not be as well-known as curry powder in the UK, but sazón is a staple Puerto Rican spice blend made using annatto seeds and sometimes turmeric. In rare cases, saffron is also added to the blend. It is far more complex than saffron but is distinctly savoury rather than sweet or floral.
Summary
Saffron is a unique spice both in terms of price and flavour. It can be hard to replicate the spice’s delicate balance of flavours on a budget.
That being said, some spices and saffron alternatives such as annatto can be found for an affordable price in speciality stores. You won’t have to break the bank to taste the luxury of saffron.