This article provides an overview of galangal, what it tastes like, its availability, alternative names, and of course what other ingredients make galangal substitutes.
What is Galangal?
Galangal is a name given to several tropical spices, which are native roots to Southern Asia. Galangal is closely related to ginger and turmeric, in taste and appearance. It is a popular ingredient in Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian cooking, especially in soups such as tom yum and tom kha gai.
What does Galangal taste like?
Galangal tastes very similar to ginger and turmeric. It offers a sharper, spicier, and more peppery taste than ginger, as well as being less pungent than turmeric.
Is Galangal readily available in Supermarkets?
Throughout Asian markets, galangal is readily available, however, you may struggle to distinguish the difference from ginger. In Western countries, it should be available in major supermarkets, but not all of them may stock it.
What are some alternative names for Galangal?
Galangal is known as Thai ginger or Siamese ginger because of its similar appearance to ginger.
What is a good substitute for Galangal in recipes?
Luckily, there are a number of great substitutes for galangal. These include:
- The best substitutes are:
- Other good substitutes for Galangal to consider are