Kale Substitutes
Out of kale? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.
Need to convert kale between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the kale converter.
What to use instead of kale
Spinach
Produce swap
1:1 by cup
Works in smoothies, soups, and sautés. Spinach is milder and wilts faster; add it later in cooking and use around 20% more by volume to match kale's bulk.
Cabbage
Produce swap
1:1 by cup, shredded
Works in cooked dishes. Cabbage lacks kale's bitterness; Green or Savoy is the closest match.
Silverbeet
Produce swap
1:1 by cup
Works in soups and sautés. Silverbeet is milder and wilts faster; it lacks kale's bitterness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I substitute for kale?
- There are 3 workable substitutes for kale, depending on what you have on hand and which property of kale matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1:1 by cup. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
- Will substituting kale change how my recipe turns out?
- Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the kale converter
- How do I measure kale accurately?
- Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The kale converter on this site converts between whole items, cups, US cups, grams, ounces, and pounds, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the kale converter
Other ingredient and produce substitutes
Find what to use instead of:
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Caster Sugar
- Raw Sugar
- Palm Sugar
- Plain Flour
- Self Raising Flour
- Cake Flour
- Corn Flour
- Arrowroot
- Tapioca Starch
- Icing Sugar
- Oat Flour
- Almond Meal
- Almond Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda (Bicarb)
- Cream of Tartar
- Gelatin
- Agar-Agar
- Ground Coffee
- Instant Coffee
- Garlic Powder
- Parsley
- Coriander
- Chopped Dried Apricots
- Sultanas
- Raisins
- Craisins
- Dates
- Dried Figs
- Butter
- Margarine
- Shortening
- Ghee
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Sunflower Seed Butter
- Hulled Tahini
- Unhulled Tahini
- Cream Cheese
- Mascarpone
- Ricotta
- Cottage Cheese
- Plain Yoghurt
- Greek Yoghurt
- Sour Cream
- Mayonnaise
- Crème Fraîche
- Heavy Cream
- Whipping Cream
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Golden Syrup
- Molasses
- Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Essence
- Vanilla Bean Paste
- Parisian Essence
- Vegetable Oil
- Olive Oil
- Applesauce
- Mashed Banana
- Pumpkin Puree
- Kidney Beans
- Butter Beans
- Chickpeas
- Black-Eyed Peas
- Chopped Onion
- Crushed Garlic
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Basmati Rice
- Jasmine Rice
- Arborio Rice
- Sushi Rice
- Milk
- Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Coconut Cream
- Almond Milk
- Soy Milk
- Oat Milk
- Buttermilk
- Parmesan Cheese
- Mozzarella
- Halloumi
- Goat's Cheese
- Grated Cheese
- Bocconcini
- Feta
- Domiati
- Paneer
- Pecorino Romano
- White Vinegar
- Lemon Juice
- Lime Juice
- Apple
- Pear
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Potato
- Sweet Potato
- Carrot
- Pumpkin
- Butternut Squash
- Onion
- Shallot
- Spring Onion
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Silverbeet
- Egg
- Egg White