Do you find yourself in need of a chicken stock concentrate substitute? In this article, I’ll discuss some ideas and suggestions that can make things work for your recipe like a charm.
Chicken stock concentrate is a form of chicken stock, which is available in several forms and varieties. Besides, there are several other ingredients and foods that can work as decent alternatives to chicken stock.
As such, we’ll discuss these substitutes with consideration for various preferences, and availability.
Generally, the best substitutes of chicken stock concentrate are conventional chicken stock, bouillon cubes, gravy granules, Japanese instant dashi, vegetable stock, Better than Bouillon, or even water. For some recipes, even beer might work.
Table of Contents
Chicken Stock Concentrate Substitutes To Consider
1. Conventional Chicken Stock
All said and done, chicken stock concentrate is made from chicken stock. So, it stands to reason that you could use the regular, normal chicken stock in place of the concentrate. Although, how you use it really depends on the recipe itself.
If there’s a recipe that wants you to add some chicken stock concentrate and water, it might just work to use conventional chicken stock for the same volume. However, if you’re only using concentrate, you might want to reduce the chicken stock over low heat to get the right volume and consistency.
Basically, if you choose this approach, watch out for the water content of your recipe.
2. Vegetable Stock
Here’s an option that can work for vegans and vegetarians who would prefer not to use meat-based options like chicken stock. Vegetable stock is a decent, if not ideal chicken stock concentrate substitute for your recipe.
You will want to watch out for the water content with this alternative. Conventional vegetable stock obviously has more water content than stock concentrate. So, you can adjust the liquid content of the recipe to better match the liquid content of vegetable stock. An alternative is to reduce the stock over low heat, so there’s less liquid content added with the stock.
3. Bouillon Cubes (Stock Cubes)
Bouillon cubes or stock cubes are quite the flavorful addition to many recipes. They add that same umami touch as you would expect from chicken stock or concentrate, and are available as easy to use, small cubes.
These cubes are available through many brands and with different compositions. If you want to stay close to flavor, you’d want a chicken stock bouillon cube. Though depending on your taste and diet preferences, you could also get them in other flavors, including vegan/vegetarian options. Do remember that your choice on the flavor can have an impact on the recipe as well. But if the goal is to bring out that umami flavor, most cubes will do just fine.
The cubes are solid, so you will need to add water. As such, these can be excellent chicken stock concentrate substitutes, since you’ll be adding only the exact amount needed by the recipe. As such, a 1:1 substitution works fine in this case.
While these are usually available as solid cubes, other forms are available as well. You can also find decent powdered cubes or flakes for culinary use. It’s worth remembering that bouillon cubes contain a fair amount of salt, which will have to be adjusted in your recipe.
4. Shiro Dashi (Instant Dashi)
Shiro Dashi or instant dashi is a fairly popular option in Japanese cuisine. This is a commercial product that’s usually available as a powder, but might be available as a liquid concentrate as well.
Beloved for its delightful umami flavors, shiro dashi is favored over making dashi the conventional way, using bonito flakes and other ingredients. In fact, it is the preferred substitute for bonito flakes when preparing dashi.
Of course, these instant dashi packages can also have other uses, including as a substitute for chicken stock concentrate. The rich umami flavorings they bring to food are definitely likable and can give your recipe that extra push to greatness.
The instant dashi is conventionally made with dried bonito flakes, dried shrimp, dried sardines, and several other ingredients. As such, it is a flavorful product. If you do intend to add this to your recipe, do make sure that you find the taste and combination agreeable.
5. Gravy Granules
Gravy granules are another commercial product that can come in handy for some recipes where you intend to use a chicken stock concentrate substitute.
Of course, gravy and stock are different things in the culinary world, but if you need to use only a small amount or don’t mind the subtle change in flavor, they can be an excellent choice. In fact, the change they bring might even enrich your recipe.
As with other commercial products, gravy granules are available in several styles and flavors. You could get a chicken stock gravy, or vegan options like vegetarian gravy granules. There is no clear formula for substitution here, so you’ll have to do it by ear. Start with a solution a little less than the amount of stock concentrate needed for your recipe, and add more as (or if) desired.
6. Miso Paste
Miso paste is a flavorful ingredient that’s well-regarded for its rich flavors and umami touch. It is often used as a substitute for stock in several recipes, mostly because its umami flavors contribute wonderfully to most recipes, often in a richer style than conventional stock.
It’s a prized ingredient used in several Japanese recipes and Asian cuisine, though its applications and use can go much wider. For our current purpose, we could use it as a suitable alternative to chicken stock concentrate.
There is no single formula for this substitution, so it’s better to start with adding a small amount of paste and add more if you believe the recipe needs more of it.
Miso paste is typically vegan, though not necessarily so. Its composition can vary by brand, manufacturer, or recipe, so it’s best to check the label to ensure it meets your diet preferences.
7. Beer
Few things are as well-liked as beer. Yet, it would be best to tread carefully when intending to use it as a substitute for chicken stock concentrate in your recipe.
Beer has a rich flavor and makes it known when added to food. As such, it’s not really an ideal choice for many recipes that use chicken stock. However, for flavorful recipes like chili, beer can make things a whole lot different.
How well that change works is up to your taste buds! Many people love the flavors that beer brings to chili, while some find the change not-so-palatable.
Generally, you should use a stout beer, or even a light beer if you prefer, but avoid using dark beer. Even if you don’t intend to substitute chicken stock concentrate, beer might be a worthy addition to the recipe for those who love its taste.
8. Better Than Bouillon
Better Than Bouillon is another commercial product that does the job of bringing a wonderful umami flavor to food. As such, it can replace chicken stock concentrate in many foods. However, keep in mind that much like other commercial alternatives, Better Than Bouillon too has added ingredients and salt that contribute to its umami flavoring.
You may want to adjust salt and other ingredients depending on the product flavor you choose. It is available in several flavors, including vegetarian and vegan-friendly options. So, there’s quite a lot to choose from, which also offers a way to customize the recipe to better suit your taste.
Picking The Right Substitute For Chicken Stock Concentrate
While it could be made at home, chicken stock concentrate is usually a commercial product. As such, many of its alternatives and substitutes are also commercial products with similar uses, though there are also other options to consider.
Conventional chicken stock or vegetable stock are good uses for chicken stock concentrate substitutes. If you have access to it, miso paste is another great option. Then there’s a range of commercial products.
Whatever you choose for the substitution, make sure you also understand the underlying flavors and water requirements. Water content and salt are important to watch out for in a substitution, ensuring they work with your recipe and it doesn’t get too water, too dry, or too salty!