Bold Bites: Spice Things Up with 8 Horseradish Substitutes

Have you been wondering what you can instead of horseradish? Today, we will take a look at the best candidates for the job.

These subs will work in the pinch when horseradish is nowhere to be found, making your dish as close to the original as possible.

Horseradish Substitutes

Wasabi

As an alternative to horseradish paste, you may use its wasabi paste. However, they differ in color, as wasabi is green while horseradish is cream white. So, keep that in mind when making the swap.

You can use them alternatively despite the visual aspect and hardly taste the difference. Regardless, keep in mind that wasabi’s green tint might not go with all dishes.

Also, wasabi is somewhat milder than horseradish, so you may need to add more of it to make up for it in the end.

Ginger

Ginger is another excellent substitute for horseradish. It is not as spicy, hence making it a better choice for those who prefer mild spice.

However, be gentle when handling ginger—add only small bits, one by one.

Otherwise, you might achieve a completely different taste than intended. Since there is no going back, you want to add little by little so you can taste as you go.

Mustard

Just like wasabi and horseradish, mustard also belongs to the Brassicaceae family. However, its light brown color makes it a better substitute for horseradish due to its similar appearance than wasabi.

Mustard packs as much heat as horseradish, and it’s available in more than one type. As a result, you can ‘fine-tune’ the outcome by applying the different variants.

Also, depending on the dish you need horseradish for, you can choose a convenient type of mustard.

For example, go for a spicy prepared mustard to create a mock horseradish sauce. On the flip side, you may want to opt for mustard seeds for more pungent spicy flavor.

Daikon

Daikon can work better as an alternative in stews and soups since it is less peppery and milder than the horseradish for those picky eaters.

Horseradish Sauce

Horseradish sauce is made with horseradish roots as the main ingredient. It’s easier to find this mixture in grocery store than it is to find fresh horseradish.

Although they both have the same flavor, horseradish sauce has extra vinegar, salt, pepper, and cream.

The cream lowers the heat level of the horseradish, which some appeal to more. It give that heat, and pungent kick but in a more mellow fashion.

However, if you want to replicate that horseradish effect, remember to add larger quantities of this sauce. Alternatively, you can also add additional horseradish powder.

Black Radish

Black radish highly resembles a beetroot in both shape and size. But the taste is peppery and strong.

The only difference is that the former is white on the inside. Feel free to grate its peels if you aim for a stronger kick. They pack quite the heat and sport a dark color on the outside.

On the other hand, you can remove the dark peels and use only the white “flesh,” which looks more like horseradish. However, the inside is not as spicy as a horseradish.

Parsnip

A parsnip is a root vegetable that looks like a white carrot. So, it copies that horseradish appearance, and also has a slight kick in flavor.

However, its effects are significantly mild, even on the sweet side. So, keep this in mind and consider the dish you’re preparing.

Furthermore, you can either bake, steam, or even mash the parsnip. Afterward, add it to broths and soups as an alternative to horseradish.

Sauerkraut and Cayenne

Salted shredded cabbage produces lactic acid, also known as sauerkraut, after fermentation.

Technically, its sour taste comes from the cabbage sugars changing into acid. All that makes sauerkraut an excellent substitute for horseradish when you had some heat to it. A dash of cayenne pepper, and you got a good swap.

As such, it belongs in sausages, stock, and salty meats. The acidity results in a taste very close to that of horseradish.

Final Thoughts On Horseradish Substitute

Horseradish is a healthy root vegetable and a favorite for various dishes. However, it might be challenging to find it fresh in stores. So, you might not be able to make that famous horseradish sauce. 

However, as evident from this guide, there is more than one option to take advantage of. Each of these ingredients will do the job without skipping a bit.

When adding these substitutes to your dishes, start with a 1:1 ratio. Then, carefully keep adding more bits until you achieve your preferred flavor.

Finally, you can use horseradish or its substitutes in soups, salads, sandwiches, and broths, just to name a few.

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