The 4 Best Accent Seasoning Substitutes For Your Recipes

Accent seasoning has been dividing the culinary world for decades – some people swear by it; other people try to avoid it as much as possible.

It is a staple in Oriental cooking based in the United States of America, but many people do not seem to appreciate it as much as they did back in the day.

The absence of this product outside the States and the continuous search for something new might be two of the reasons why many people are always on the quest to try to find a replacement for Accent seasoning.

If you want to know more about Accent flavor enhancers, and if you want to find a valid alternative to use in the kitchen, read the following list below.

The best substitutes for Accent seasoning

Accent seasoning is a popular flavor enhancer, also known as Monosodium Glutamate (or MSG).

Glutamate is highly used in most prepackaged food, ready lunches, sauces, and any other kind of food that is industrially produced.

Some people do not mind cooking with MSG, while others prefer to avoid employing it in their homemade food. Or sometimes they simply tend to limit its consumption, as they prefer to eat a more suitable alternative or just prefer consuming unprocessed food.

With that being said, though, what is Accent seasoning? As its name says, it is a seasoning added to food to enhance its flavor.

It is not exactly salt, but it presents itself as a white, powdered crystal that resembles salt or sugar, but it does not possess a specific taste.

As a result, how does it enhance the flavor in foods if it does not have a flavor itself? Well, that is because once it gets on your tongue, MSG will activate the glutamate receptor, enhancing the flavors of the food you are eating.

Accent seasoning is customarily used with meat dishes, as it brings all that delicious flavor out, but it works wonders with many other dishes and recipes.

For example, it can be utilized to cook soups, vegetables (like roasted potatoes or carrots), or it can be used to deliver an extra kick to sauces and even rice.

To find the perfect Accent seasoning substitute though, it is critical to know that MSG is not the sole ingredient contained in Accent seasoning. Accent seasoning ingredients additionally include salt, onion, garlic extracts, cumin, oregano, chili pepper, and paprika.

If you normally like to follow recipes while cooking and bump into Accent seasoning but do not have it at home, do not panic.

It is an incredibly popular ingredient in the United States, but it is not as fashionable in the rest of the world, so you might need a substitute for Accent seasoning.

Finding an Accent seasoning replacement can be easier than you might think. You can use ingredients you already have laying around in your kitchen or inside your cupboards.

Sometimes, Accent seasoning is optional to add too, so if you do not feel like using it, or if you do not want to add extra ingredients to your recipes, it is equally possible to completely skip this step.

And now, without further ado, here is a comprehensive list of all the Accent seasoning alternatives you can use for your delicious recipes.

1. Salt

It doesn’t get any easier than this. Salt is most likely the perfect substitute for Accent flavor enhancer.

Sometimes, when a recipe calls for both salt and Accent seasoning, the doses are reduced on both sides as they both add flavor and too much of both can be a little too much.

It might not be an extremely healthy option, but it is the most accurate. What matters is that you watch out for the quantity you are going to use. But if your recipe calls for Accent seasoning, and you do not have it at home, salt is the closest ingredient you will find in your cupboard.

2. Other salt varieties

By all means, salt is not all the same. Along with your same-old table salt, there are plenty of varieties of salts available around the world.

Kosher salt and sea salt can be a great Accent seasoning alternative, for example. Kosher salt comes in quite large crystals and originates from rock salt deposits.

Sea salt, as its name says, comes from evaporated seawater. It has plenty of benefits, and it is a great alternative to both table salt and Accent seasoning enhancer.

On top of that, pink salt can be a fantastic option! Also known as Himalayan salt, it is sourced in the Punjab area of Pakistan. Although it retains a stunning, lovely color, its structure is highly similar to your usual table salt.

Another incredible alternative is Korean bamboo salt. It is quite an expensive choice, but it is full of benefits too.

As a result, it is safe to say, there are plenty of Accent salt substitutes, but it is up to you to choose the best choice for your recipes.

3. Spices and seasoning

Seasoning represents an excellent alternative to salt and a creative Accent cooking seasoning alternative.

If you are trying to avoid salt, whether it is for your diet or any other reason, you can always turn to seasoning to boost the flavor of your dishes.

Do not be afraid to add, mix and match your seasoning and spices. They will all make your food taste incredibly delicious.

Go big on spices that should be a must in everyone’s kitchens: black pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili powder, curry powder, paprika, and the greatest of them all, garlic powder.

All these spices deliver an extra kick to your dishes, transporting them to a whole new level of tastiness.

Some other things that must find their homes in your cupboards are seasoning like dried herbs, like thyme, sage, oregano, rosemary, mint.

Mixing all these ingredients can be compared to a creative process, where the aim is to bring balance to your dish while enhancing to the fullest its fantastic flavor.

The bright side of adding spices and seasoning is the reduction of salt in your recipes, making it not only super tasty but also incredibly healthy.

4. Homemade Accent seasoning

If you love Accent seasoning, but you feel a little unsure whether to use it or not in your recipes, you can always make Accent seasoning at home!

Do not fear the process, though. Making your own Accent seasoning is way easier than you think, and it will take you nothing but a matter of minutes.

All you will need is a list of spices and dried herbs that are considered easy to find anywhere around the world.

So to gather up all your ingredients, you are going to need about 26 oz of salt. Then you can proceed to measure the rest of your ingredients with tablespoons.

A mix of peppers is essential in the making of Accent cooking seasoning, so mix a couple of tablespoons of cayenne pepper along with black pepper. You can either add more of one or the other, according to your personal preferences.

While you are combining the spicy ingredients, it does not hurt to include a few tablespoons of chili powder as well, if you enjoy consuming it.

Now, stir in some onion powder and garlic powder to give it that lovely kick. The powder is recommended for fresh ingredients as it will make your mixture last longer.

And last but not least, you can finally add the dehydrated herbs, thyme, basil, and bay leaf. Give the whole thing a good stir and place it in a container, or even in a salt and pepper shaker.

A shaker is probably the best option to keep your mixture safe as it allows you to sprinkle it carefully on your food while you are cooking. 

How to choose an Accent seasoning substitute

Choosing your Accent seasoning substitute is simple, the only question you need to ask yourself is: how do I like to season my homemade food?

If you want to enhance your deliciously tasty food and you do not mind the spice, go on adding cayenne powder, chili peppers, or even red pepper flakes. The hotter, the better!

If you are not a fan of the flaming hot, it is also possible to use salt in all its various shapes and forms. There is table salt, Himalayan salt, Korean bamboo salt, Kosher salt, and the list goes on and on!

Last, but not least, it is also an incredible alternative to make your own Accent seasoning substitute, from the comfort of your home. It does not take a lot of time either.

You will be able to get it ready in a matter of minutes. And the ingredient list is far from long, so it’s really easy to make. Most of the ingredients will be already available in your cupboard, so you have no excuses not to try this right away.

Remember, Accent seasoning, and all its substitutes listed above, are the perfect match for any recipe you have in mind, including red meat, veggies, tofu, chicken, and more.