Here's What You Can Substitute For Parsley

Parsley is a bright green leaf that is considered an herb. There are two types of parsley that you can find at most stores — flat-leaf and Italian — and both are commonly used for cooking as well as for garnish. While the herb can be used to add color to the top of a dish, it is also a great way to add flavor to many recipes. Fresh parsley is easy to grow at home, though it can also be bought at the grocery store and kept in the refrigerator (via Livestrong).

If you do, however, run out of fresh parsley, there are quite a few alternatives that can be substituted in for fresh parsley. Dried parsley has a much longer shelf life and can be kept in the pantry for many months without compromising its flavor. This makes dried parsley one of the best substitutes. To use dried parsley, use one teaspoon for every tablespoon of fresh parsley that a recipe calls for (via Huffpost).

There are a few other herbs that can stand in for parsley, though which one you use will largely depend on what kind of dish you are preparing as well as what is on hand. Herbs like cilantro, basil, celery leaves, and chervil leaves are all great replacements for fresh parsley. Celery leaves are in the same family as parsley so it looks very similar. Some believe the two taste very similar, so chopping up celery leaves and using them in place of parsley is certainly an option. Chervil is also in the same family as parsley. Its mild flavor is lost in cooking, so toss it in at the last second or use it raw to garnish with (via Spoon University).

Cilantro has a very distinct taste that may or may not work well in a dish, so consider your flavor profile before adding it in. Cilantro will work best to replace parsley in Mexican, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisines because the substitute herb is commonly used in many of the dishes. Basil can also be used in place of parsley, but, again, consider your recipe. For the same reasons, basil works best in Italian dishes.