In the West, Pandan might be a little-known dish, but in Asian cuisine, it is extremely popular. This is often used as a substitute for plates, serving as a wrap for curries and other foods. This is because the leaf transfers a lot of its aromatic flavor to the food itself.
This leaf is long and slender, coming in a vivid green color. When it is cooked, it releases a scent that has been described as being very much like vanilla or almonds. However, this leaf is very hard to come by outside of the USA, so what substitutes are there?
Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives that you can use for Pandan Leaf. But what do they taste like? What about the texture of the leaf? Will it give you that authentic Asian flavor?
Well, we’ll give you a breakdown of some of the tastiest Pandan-ish ingredients on the market.
List Of Best Pandan Substitutes
Pandanus Extract (100g)
Calories: 321
Protein: 2.2g
Carbs: 78 g
Fat: 0g
Fiber: 11% of the Daily Value (DV)
Iron: 32% of the DV
Calcium: 10% of the DV
Phosphorus: 9% of the DV
Substitution ratio: A few drops
Banana Leaf (100g)
Total Fat: 0.3g
Sodium: 1 mg
Potassium: 358 mg
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Fiber: 2.6 g
Sugar: 1g
Protein: 1.1g
Vitamin A: 1%
Vitamin C: 14%
Calcium: 0%
Iron: 1%
Substitution ratio: 1:1
Vanilla Beans (0.5g)
Calories: 1.4
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrates: 0.1g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0.1g
Protein: 0g
Substitution ratio: 10:1
Celery Leaves (38g)
Calories: 6.8
Total Fat: 0.1g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 34mg
Carbohydrates: 1.5g
Dietary Fiber: 0.6g
Sugars: 0.9g
Protein: 0.3g
Substitution ratio: 2:1
Matcha Tea (2g)
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrates: 0g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g
Substitution ratio: 2:1
Pandan Nutritional Value (100g)
Calories: 321
Protein: 2.2 g
Carbs: 78 g
Fat: 0 g
Fiber: 11% of the Daily Value (DV)
Iron: 32% of the DV
Calcium: 10% of the DV
Phosphorus: 9% of the DV
What Does Pandan Taste Like?
This plant, when cooked, has a sweet aroma, almost like vanilla or almonds, which will influence the flavor of whatever food you place near it.
If you are cooking a spicy curry and you want to add that vanilla note afterward, then we would recommend you add some pandan leaf.
These leaves are also quite floral in their taste, but this is very subtle. They are long and thin leaves that are bright and vivid green. You can lay a few of these on top of each other to form a place on which you can ladle even hot food.
You can even boil these leaves down to make oil, which will add a natural sweetness to any food that you are cooking. This will add that sweet texture to your food, which is great if you find that your current dish is too spicy.
Best Substitutes For Pandan
1. Pandanus Extract
This first substitute tastes almost exactly like Pandan. Why? Because it is made from Pandan! If you don’t want to alter the flavor of your recipe, then we would recommend you use some of this sweet oil.
This can be used in a wide array of dishes, from curries to desserts. It has that natural sweetness that you won’t find in dishes that use sugar.
This is also a healthier option and contains far fewer calories. This extract is very concentrated, so you’ll only have to use a few drops in your food.
2. Banana Leaves
These leaves give you a very sweet flavor and can be used as natural plates that will infuse your meal with a sweet taste in much the same way as Pandan does. Banana leaves are also much easier to source and you might be able to find them at your local Asian food market.
Banana leaves are not as sweet as Pandan, but they do suffuse your food with a sumptuous flavor. They are grassy and papery, which makes them very malleable. You’ll also be able to use them for a wider variety of dishes than you would Pandan.
3. Vanilla Beans
Next up, we have some beans that are made from a vanilla seed pod, so while they do not have the same shape as Pandan, they will give you the same flavor and be very easy to cook. They have a much mellower flavor, with an oily texture that is like Pandan leaf.
You can either chop up these beans or grind them up into a fine paste. They can then be added to your curry or dessert directly.
You’ll have to scrape out the seeds of these beans, which will take some time and effort, but after you have done then, you can add them to your recipe.
4. Celery Leaves
You might not think that celery has the flavor that you are looking for in a dessert, but we’re not talking about the stalks here, but rather the leaves at the top. They are slightly bitterer in flavor than Pandan, but they do have a very floral and refreshing aroma.
You can eat these leaves raw or cook them into your food. They have roughly the same texture and taste as kale or spinach when you cook them. You can also lash your leaves together to make it into an organic plate in much the same way as you would a Pandan leaf.
5. Matcha Tea
This is another extract that will infuse your meal with much the same bold flavors as Pandan. This is primarily used for tea, although you can use it for lattes and other caffeinated beverages.
It dissolves very easily in hot water. You can even mix it into a smoothie.
This tea has a very distinctive green color, which will give your food that extra healthy tint. This is not too strong, so you can add it to your meal depending on what flavor you are looking for.
Popular Recipes That Call For Pandan
Crispy Pandan Waffles
These waffles are very aromatic, as Pandan paste is one of the main ingredients. It also contains sugar, flour, and coconut milk, all of which work together to make a very creamy and vanilla-tinged dessert.
Chicken Wrapped In Pandan Leaves
We have talked about how wonderful these dishes are when you have wrapped them in Pandan leaves, well chicken is a meat that is no exception. This gives the meat a very vibrant aroma as well as retaining a lot of the meat’s natural juice.
Conclusion
Pandan is a truly delicious leaf that is perfect to add to a lot of dishes, both Asian and European. These substitutes are all sweet with either a floral or vanilla hint, which is actually a great twist for a lot of spicy dishes. This is also great to have as a substitute for crockery.
