Whether in a savory recipe or on the table to add a bit of extra spice to your meal, pepper (and its many forms) is a staple ingredient in almost every household. You probably have black pepper in your pantry and use it often. But what if your recipe calls for white pepper, and you don't have any? What is a white pepper substitute? Can you substitute black pepper for white pepper? That depends.
A lot of recipes call for white pepper to keep the appearance of dishes (think cheese sauces or creamy soups) clean without little dark specks, but the fact is, white pepper and black pepper differ more than just in appearance. Read on to find out the best white pepper substitutes for your recipes.
Black Pepper as a White Pepper Substitute
Other than the color, white pepper is milder in flavor than black pepper. You can use black pepper as a white pepper substitute if the specks don't bother you. However, you may want to start with less black pepper than the white pepper called for and adjust the flavor as you go.
White Pepper vs. Black Pepper
Black and white pepper both come from the same berry plant. The difference is white peppercorns are dried, fully ripened berries that have had their black hulls removed. Their clean, spicy flavor is reminiscent of roasted nuts.
Other White Pepper Substitutes
If you're fresh out of black pepper, too, here are some additional white pepper substitutes to keep in mind:
- Ground ginger: It's not an exact match for flavor, but a little ground ginger will give some mild spice while keeping the color profile.
- Ground mustard: Yes, this one's yellow, but the flavor is mild with some heat. It'll work great as a white pepper substitute in macaroni and cheese.
- Other peppercorns: If you have pink, green, or a multicolored blend, use them as a white pepper substitute. As with the black pepper note above, you'll want to start with a lower amount first.