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Need a good substitute for rosemary? Fresh rosemary has a unique flavor that’s hard to replace. But if you’re in a pinch and need a replacement, here’s the best fresh rosemary substitutes you can use.

A white plate with a bunch of rosemary sprigs on it next to garlic bulbs and cherry tomatoes.

If you’re making a recipe that calls for rosemary and you don’t have any on hand, there’s a few substitutes for rosemary leaves that you can use to replace it, though the flavor won’t be quite the same.

A white plate with a bunch of rosemary sprigs on it next to garlic bulbs and cherry tomatoes.

What Is Rosemary? 

Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus) is a fragrant small evergreen shrub that is part of the “Lamiaceae” family, which includes mint, basil, oregano and thyme. The leaves are deep green and they look like flat pine tree needles.

What Can I Substitute For Rosemary?

Rosemary has a fragrant aroma and bright flavor that can be difficult to match, but if you’re in the middle of making a dish that calls for fresh rosemary but you don’t have any on hand, oregano, basil,  thyme and sage are all good substitutes for rosemary.

1. Oregano

Oregano has an earthy flavor that can be used as a substitution for rosemary in savory dishes. Use the same amount of fresh oregano as you would use for fresh rosemary (a 1:1 ratio) and adjust to taste.

2. Basil

Basil comes from the same mint family as rosemary. It has a slightly sweet peppery flavor and makes a good substitute for rosemary in Italian dishes. Use fresh basil in a 1:1 ratio for fresh rosemary and adjust to taste.

2. Thyme

The flavor of thyme is much more mild than rosemary, but it makes a great substitute.  Use fresh thyme in a 1:1 ratio for fresh rosemary and adjust to taste.

3. Sage

Sage has a similar robust pine-like flavor, so it makes a good substitute for rosemary. Because sage has a strong flavor, use fresh sage in a 2:1 ratio for fresh rosemary. This means you should use 1/2 the amount of sage as you would use for rosemary and adjust to taste.

A white plate with a bunch of rosemary sprigs on it next to garlic bulbs and cherry tomatoes.

How to Choose The Freshest Rosemary

Look for sprigs of Rosemary that look fresh and have a vibrant green sage color.  Avoid limp and wilting leaves and leaves that are yellowing or have dark spots.

How Do You Store Fresh Rosemary?

Store fresh rosemary in the refrigerator in its original packaging or wrapped in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag with one end open. 

How Long Does Fresh Rosemary Last?

Fresh rosemary leaves will last for 1-2 weeks if properly stored.

Can I Use Dried Rosemary Instead of Fresh?

To substitute dried rosemary for fresh, use 1/3 the amount of dried as you would fresh. One tablespoon fresh rosemary = 1 teaspoon dried is a general conversion ratio to start with. It’s good practice to start out by using a small amount of a dried rosemary then adjust to taste. When cooking with fresh rosemary, it’s best to add it to your dish halfway through the cooking time to retain the maximum amount of nutrients. When cooking with dried rosemary, add it at the beginning of cooking time so it will have a long enough time for the flavor to come out. Rub dried rosemary between your fingers to release the essential oils before adding it to a dish.

What Does Rosemary Taste Like?

Fresh rosemary has a has a unique pine tree-like fragrant flavor. It can be a strong tasting herb that is often used as a garnish or to compliment flavors in other foods, but if too much is added it can overpower the other flavors in a dish. If you enjoy the flavor of rosemary, try using it to season chicken, salmon, tomato sauces, soups, potatoes and mushrooms. A little rosemary goes a long way and too much can be over power the other flavors in your dish.

How Do You Remove Rosemary Leaves From The Stems?

Hold the top of the rosemary stem tightly with your index finger and thumb, and with your other hand slide your fingers down the stem removing the rosemary leaves. When using fresh rosemary, it’s necessary to remove the hard needle-like leaves from the stem (discarding the stem) and then chop and crush them well. 

5 Ways To Use Fresh Rosemary

  1. Beverages: Rosemary adds flavor to Flavored Water and sprigs of rosemary are used to garnish cocktails.
  2. Bouquet Garni: Sprigs of Rosemary are frequently added to bouquet garni, which is a combination of herbs tied together with kitchen twine or placed in cheese cloth to season stocks, soups, casseroles, cooking lentils and beans, or poaching chicken and fish.
  3. Salads: Add fresh rosemary leaves to salads like this Blueberry Chicken Salad.
  4. Skillets: Rosemary is a wonderful herb to season beans and chicken with like this Tuscan Chicken with White Beans.
  5. Soup: Rosemary adds a lot of flavor to soups like this Nourishing Bean Soup.

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Rosemary Substitute
Yield: 1 serving

Rosemary Substitute

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Need a good substitute for rosemary? Fresh rosemary has a unique flavor that’s hard to replace. But if you’re in a pinch and need a replacement, here’s the best fresh rosemary substitutes you can use.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon basil
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon sage

Instructions

  1. Oregano has an earthy flavor that can be used as a substitution for rosemary in savory dishes. Use the same amount of fresh oregano as you would use for fresh rosemary (a 1:1 ratio) and adjust to taste.
  2. Basil comes from the same mint family as rosemary. It has a slightly sweet peppery flavor and makes a good substitute for rosemary in Italian dishes. Use fresh basil in a 1:1 ratio for fresh rosemary and adjust to taste.
  3. Thyme is much more mild-flavored than rosemary, but it makes a great substitute.  Use fresh thyme in a 1:1 ratio for fresh rosemary and adjust to taste.
  4. Sage has a similar robust pine-like flavor, so it makes a good substitute for rosemary. Because sage has a strong flavor, use fresh sage in a 2:1 ratio for fresh rosemary. This means you should use 1/2 the amount of sage as you would use for rosemary and adjust to taste.

Notes

Substitute Fresh Rosemary With Dried

To substitute dried rosemary for fresh, use 1/3 the amount of dried as you would fresh. One tablespoon fresh rosemary = 1 teaspoon dried is a general conversion ratio to start with. It’s good practice to start out by using a small amount of a dried rosemary then adjust to taste. When cooking with fresh rosemary, it's best to add it to your dish halfway through the cooking tome to retain the maximum amount of nutrients. When cooking with dried rosemary, add it at the beginning of cooking time so it will have a long enough time for the flavor to come out. Rub dried rosemary between your fingers to release the essential oils before adding it to a dish.

How To Remove Rosemary Leaves From The Stems

Hold the top of the rosemary stem tightly with your index finger and thumb, and with your other hand slide your fingers down the stem removing the rosemary leaves. Discard stems after you remove the leaves.

How To Store Fresh Rosemary

Store fresh rosemary in the refrigerator in its original packaging or wrapped in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag with one end open. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.

© Deborah @The Harvest Kitchen
Cuisine: Healthy / Category: Substitutions