Southeast Asia - No galangal available

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No galangal available - substitute ginger?

Printed From: Foods of the World Forum
Category: Asia
Forum Name: Southeast Asia
Forum Discription: SoutheastAsia
URL: http://foodsoftheworld.ActiveBoards.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=2173
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 20:34

Topic: No galangal available - substitute ginger?

Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Subject: No galangal available - substitute ginger?
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 11:02

i know that galangal and ginger are related, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are interchangable.

i'd like to make some http://foodsoftheworld.activeboards.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=1817&title=ketjap-manis-indonesian-sweet-soy-sauce - ketjap manis , which requires ground laos (galangal); assuming that there isn't any available within 200 miles of my home, would anyone care to suggest an "acceptable" substitute, or would ground ginger do the job?

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Replies:

Posted By: Daikon
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 11:29

If you can't find galangal, then you probably can't find Chinese ginger/fingerroot either, which I consider to be a better substitute than common ginger. So, fresh ginger is your best substitute, and you'll need to use more of it (as much as 1.5X) since it isn't as pungent as galangal.

Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 11:46

that i can definitely do - we have no chinese ginger, but we do have common ginger. you suggested fresh ginger; i assume it would be peeled and then the required (adjusted) amount minced, similar to mincing garlic cloves?

thanks!

Posted By: HistoricFoodie
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 12:17

There seems to be a difference of opinion about galangal/ginger.

For example, Linda Stephen (Complete Book of Thai Food) says to substitute fresh ginger. But Judy Lew (Thai Cuisine Lemon Grass Cookbook) says that while galangal is similar in appearance to ginger root, it has a different flavor.

"Similar" is one of those loose words, though. Other than being knobby rizomes, I don't think the two look anything alike. Plus galangal is very woody, compared to regular ginger, and has a lemony undertaste IMO.

Posted By: Daikon
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 12:31

Sure, ginger tastes different from galangal, but it is the closest-tasting, readily-available ingredient -- which is the point of a substitute, not exactly duplicating the flavor.

Use the ginger however the recipe calls for galangal to be used, Ron.

Posted By: Percebes
Date Posted: 01 March 2016 at 18:47

Ron
I will happily bring some dried galangal root down on my next foray into your neck of the woods.

I buy fresh Galangal here, but not sure about the border crossing. Never had an issue with dried spices.

The flavor is so unique and IMO totally unlike ginger.

I use fresh for grilling fish sandwiched between two slabs of Pineapple bark secured by twine

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Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 04 March 2016 at 18:59

I'm grateful for your offer, Murray -

Southeast Asian cuisine is not something that I get to cook often, but when I do, I sure enjoy it.

Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 12 April 2018 at 15:24

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Dried:

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