Tarragon brings a mild anise aroma to chicken, fish, egg dishes, Béarnaise sauce, and vinegar. And that licorice-like flavor comes from the herb’s natural oils.
Because tarragon is delicate and its essential oils fade quickly, many cooks like to use it fresh. But if your pantry is empty or tarragon is out of season, several herbs and spice combinations can bring a similar brightness.Below are seven simple tarragon alternatives you can use when you need a replacement for tarragon in cooking or a substitute for tarragon spice.
Best Tarragon Alternatives
Dorot Gardens Parsley
Parsley is a kitchen staple with a clean, slightly peppery taste. Dorot’s flash-frozen parsley cubes eliminate chopping and give you measured portions that stay flavorful for up to two years.
It freshens sauces and soups in a way that feels close to tarragon, just without the licorice note.
Dorot Gardens Basil
Sweet basil has a mild licorice flavor and a clove-like scent. Dorot’s basil cubes let you pop out a cube when you need fresh-tasting basil without chopping.
Its warm anise undertones make it a good substitute in tomato sauces, salad dressings, and marinades.
Dorot Gardens Dill
Dill adds a fresh herbal note that works well in dressings, seafood dishes, and potato salads. Dorot’s dill cubes give you quick access to fresh-tasting dill without any chopping.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds have a sweet, anise-like flavor that comes close to tarragon’s licorice tone. They work well in rubs and marinades, but start with a pinch since the flavor gets stronger when toasted.
Dried Tarragon
When fresh tarragon is unavailable, dried tarragon can step in. Use about 1 teaspoon dried for every tablespoon of fresh, and add it sparingly since the flavor is more concentrated and can turn bitter.
Chervil
Chervil has a sweet, fresh taste that is reminiscent of anise and fennel. Its delicate flavor works well in fish, meat, salads, vegetables, sauces, and soups. Add it at the end of cooking for a light anise note similar to tarragon.
Marjoram
Marjoram has sweet pine and citrus flavors and works well in soups, stews, dressings, and sauces. It does not have tarragon’s licorice note, but it adds a warm, woodsy aroma that suits slow-cooked dishes and creamy sauces.
Keep Fresh Herbs Ready Anytime!
Don’t let a missing herb slow down dinner. Find Dorot Gardens frozen herb cubes near you and keep basil, parsley, dill, and more ready in your freezer.
The Bottom Line..
Tarragon adds a gentle licorice aroma to French classics like Béarnaise sauce, chicken, and fish, but you do not need to abandon a recipe if you run out. Parsley, basil, and dill bring freshness, while fennel seeds and chervil offer similar anise notes.Dried tarragon can come close to the fresh herb when used carefully, and marjoram gives you a warm, woodsy alternative for roasted meats and hearty stews. Once you understand how each herb tastes, it becomes much easier to choose the best tarragon alternative for your dish.