Did you know that if you don’t have water chestnuts, you can use singkamas instead? That if you don’t have buttermilk, you can use sweet milk and yogurt instead? That if you don’t have ghee, you can use vegetable oil?
I’ve felt frustrated whenever I’d stumble upon a recipe I’d love to try, but find out later that the ingredients are not available here in the Philippines. It’s not like cardamom is readily available or zucchini inexpensive.
Nestle has this portion of their site called “Pinoy Ingredient Substitutes.” It is a list of hard-to-find ingredients with their easy-to-find substitute. Go through the list and see how helpful it can be for you!
P.S. And no, this is not a paid post. I write about things that interest me. If I am asked to review something, I will disclose it. 😉
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
abby
June 19, 2007 at 10:20 am (17 years ago)yehey, pa-kiss nga toni! 😀 thanks for the link, minsan i get stumped with ingredients i’ve never heard of or too shushal sounding, yun pala there’s a cheaper and (more importantly) a more accessible substitute for it. helpful site!
kaoko
June 19, 2007 at 12:11 pm (17 years ago)Great link, thanks. Useful s’ya. Para di na ako kailangan sumugod sa Santis lagi.
hazel
June 19, 2007 at 1:50 pm (17 years ago)i signed up for the Nestle newsletter too and got this some weeks ago. pretty helpful huh?
although there are still some that just don’t have a counterpart here hehe
Cookie
June 19, 2007 at 2:00 pm (17 years ago)Thanks for the great tip. I just hate it when I come across what seems like a good recipe but has an ingredient that you can’t find here or is too expensive. Thanks Toni
May
June 19, 2007 at 3:25 pm (17 years ago)Helpful tips, Toni! I am a budding cook so it’s rather intimidating to come across a recipe I’d like to try but alas, cannot find that what I need isn’t readily available or inexpensive.
Pao
June 19, 2007 at 4:11 pm (17 years ago)this is a great site. thanks for featuring it. kabaligtaran naman ang situation ko. i need pinoy ingredients na kadalasan wala dito so this site will still be useful for me kasi yang mga cardamom, cardamom na yan eh yan naman ang meron dito. 😆
karol
June 19, 2007 at 5:54 pm (17 years ago)ey! thanks for the link. kakatuwa!!! really useful…
Kay
June 20, 2007 at 11:33 am (17 years ago)They email you stuff as well … I think if you’re a member, they do that …
aloi
June 22, 2007 at 8:33 am (17 years ago)oo, grabe ka-frustrating ‘no? great link toni! have a great vacation!