Useful Tips For Converting Measures, Weights And Import Substitution

Don't know how to replace mascarpone in cream or how many grams are in an American "stick" of butter? Then you are here!

 

Don't know how to replace mascarpone in cream or how many grams are in an American "stick" of butter? Then you are here! We will tell you how to cope without mayonnaise, not to cook chickpeas for several hours and how many milliliters are in an ounce.

Import substitution

We have selected the most popular products used in recipes, sauces and alcoholic drinks, which are often difficult to find in small provincial stores. As a rule, these are cheeses, Asian sauces and alcohol. The first value is the original product to be replaced. The second is an affordable alternative. 

▪ Tomato passata is replaced by canned mashed or whole tomatoes in their own juice (the latter must be beaten with a blender).

▪ Replace oyster sauce with fish sauce, soy sauce, or mushroom sauce.

▪ Instead of rice wine, use dry white grape wine or dry sherry.

 

▪ Rice vinegar is an excellent substitute for wine vinegar (white, red) or regular table vinegar, as well as apple cider vinegar or apple juice.

Now let's talk about popular cheeses. They are often used in the preparation of desserts, as a condiment and as an ingredient in sauces. It is not easy to replace the original cheese, but we will try anyway.

▪ Parmesan can be replaced by other hard cheeses: "Altai", "Dutch", "Swiss", "Dzhyugas".

▪ Feta can be replaced by any pickled cheese: brynza, suluguni, Adygeisky. If you want to achieve a more delicate taste, not so salty, then soak the cheese with which you will replace the feta in water first.

▪ Instead of ricotta, use cottage cheese, buttermilk cheese (although the latter is also a rare guest in small shops).

▪ The most favorite cheese - mascarpone - can be replaced with cheese "Philadelphia", "Almette", "Rama Bonjour". Another option is to beat 250 g of baby curds with 100 g of heavy cream. For desserts, also use this recipe: beat a packet of custard with condensed milk (condensed milk instead of milk in the amount indicated in the instructions on the cream package).

▪ Instead of mozzarella, use grained cheese, suluguni.

By the way, cheeses and sauces can be prepared at home. For example, mascarpone is made with just two ingredients - cream and lemon juice.

 

Here are links to simple step-by-step recipes for making popular sauces and cheeses at home:

homemade cheese with herbs and cumin >>> 

mascarpone >>>

mozzarella at home >>>

worcestershire sauce >>>

hoisin >>>

sriracha >>>

Measures and weights

The temperature of baking various dishes in the oven most often varies from 160 to 220 degrees Celsius. We convert the most popular indicators from Celsius (first value) to Fahrenheit (second value):

▪ 160 degrees Celsius - 320 degrees Fahrenheit;

▪ 170 - 338;

▪ 180 - 356;

▪ 190 - 374;

▪ 200 - 392;

▪ 210 - 410;

▪ 220 - 428.

In English-language recipes, when describing the weights of products, values ​​such as cup, stick, Tbsp, tsp, oz, lb, baking powder are used. We explain:

▪ cup - cup or mug - 227 g butter, 128 g flour and powdered sugar, 201 g sugar or 236 ml

▪ stick - “stick”, speaking of butter - 113 g

▪ Tbsp - tablespoon (tablespoon) - 15 g, 15 ml

▪ tsp - teaspoon (teaspoon) - 5 g, 5 ml

▪ oz - ounce - 28 g, 30 ml

▪ lb - pound - 454 g/ml

▪ baking powder - baking powder (the simplest composition: 1 part baking soda, 1 part citric acid, 1 part mixture of flour, starch, powdered sugar). Just buy a pack of baking powder and use it.

Please note that US and UK units are different, we offer the US version of the conversion and round to the nearest whole number.

Allergens

Replace the most popular allergens with other products. True, some of them will have to be looked for in large stores or ordered via the Internet.

▪ Replace milk with rice, almond, soy or coconut milk.

▪ The egg is needed to "glue" the components. There are several options for replacing one egg, for example: 1 tbsp. l. soak ground flaxseed in 2 tbsp. l. hot water. Or use 2 tbsp. l. potato or corn starch (without any liquid). You can simply mash half a banana with a fork and mix with 3 tbsp. l. applesauce. You can also take 3 tbsp. l. nut butter. And you can grease pastries before baking instead of eggs with milk.

▪ Replace animal gelatin with agar-agar.

▪ Use honey or stevia instead of sugar.

 

We save time and money

Soaking and cooking legumes - chickpeas, beans takes the most time. We suggest using canned in jars - they differ little in taste, and save time significantly, besides, they are inexpensive.

Frozen vegetables, fruits and berries make life easier. Buy such vegetables for soup and stews, fruits and berries for compotes and pastries. Usually they are frozen in season, they are cheaper and you will not bother where to get mangoes or fresh green peas at the end of December. And even better - freeze the berries themselves, chopped herbs and vegetables in the freezer. This is the easiest and fastest way to prepare for winter.

A few more tips on the way to a healthy diet. Replace sour cream with Greek or low-fat yogurt. Mayonnaise - fermented milk products or hummus, a mixture of mustard with sour cream and lemon juice. Steam more often. Be healthy!