Saffron, commonly referred to as “the world’s most legendary spice” by food enthusiasts, is best known for the beautiful red-orange color it imparts in food and is considered an essential ingredient in everything from paella and risotto to breads and bouillabaisse. While this spice adds a beautiful hue and sweet, luxurious flavor to food, at about $17 per ½ ounce, the price can make it out of reach for most home chefs, so it’s helpful to know what alternatives are available at your local grocery store so your dishes don’t miss out. While the flavors and aromas of these substitutes differ from saffron, these easy-to-find options all can provide that similar coloring along with a pleasing taste, ensuring that no matter what you’re cooking, the absence of saffron won’t mean absence of good flavor. Check out our guide for the 4 best substitutes for saffron because at a price of over $4,000 per pound, using a saffron alternative is entirely acceptable.
