Cooking ideas
Alternatives to MSG for everyday cooking
If you would like to use something other than MSG in a recipe, start with the flavour you want. Mushroom powder, parmesan and soy sauce all taste different, so the best choice depends on the dish.
Choose by taste and use
An alternative does not have to reproduce MSG exactly to work in a meal. A broth may suit kombu or dried mushrooms, while pasta may suit parmesan or tomatoes. Start with a small amount and taste.
Check ingredients and allergens, especially with sauces and prepared blends. These options are not interchangeable for every recipe or every person.
Where Pranasalt fits
Pranasalt is a flavour enhancer made from 95% Himalayan pink salt and 5% spices: chilli, fenugreek, mango powder, mustard, asafoetida and sesame. Each sachet contains roughly 1g and about 0.2 kcal. It contains mustard, wheat flour and sesame.
Pranasalt contains no added MSG. It is a flavour enhancer made from Himalayan pink salt and six spices, with a tangy, warm and savoury flavour of its own. It is not a like-for-like replacement for MSG in a recipe.
Ideas to try
Dried mushroom powder
Try a little in soups, stews or mince. It adds an earthy flavour, so taste as you add it.
Nutritional yeast
Use the savoury, slightly cheesy flakes on pasta or vegetables if you enjoy their flavour.
Tomatoes or tomato powder
Use tomatoes in sauces and stews, or tomato powder in a spice mix. They bring their own tang and sweetness.
Parmesan
Grate a little over pasta, vegetables or eggs. It contains milk and adds its own salt and flavour.
Kombu or other seaweed
Kombu can be used in broth; some dried seaweeds can be crumbled over food. Follow the instructions for the product you buy.
Soy sauce or fish sauce
Add a little during cooking or at the table. Check salt content and allergens on the label.
Free AI prompt · Ayurveda + your AI
Fix any bland meal with your AI.
Tell ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity what you are eating. This prompt asks for a few simple additions using the ingredients you already have, with Ayurveda's six tastes as a way to explore flavour.
Open the prompt in - just click
The selected AI service receives this prompt when you open it. You choose what meal details to add. You can also copy the prompt to another service.
Questions
What is the best alternative to MSG?
It depends on the recipe and the taste you want. Mushrooms, tomatoes, parmesan and sauces each bring a distinct flavour.
Does Pranasalt contain MSG?
Pranasalt contains no added MSG. The full ingredient list is on our ingredients and sourcing page and on the box.
Can I replace MSG with the same amount of Pranasalt?
Do not assume the amounts are interchangeable. Pranasalt contains Himalayan pink salt and spices, so it changes saltiness and adds other flavours. Start with a little and taste.
Does no added MSG mean no glutamate?
No. Those statements mean different things. We describe what is added to our recipe; we do not claim the product is free of naturally occurring glutamate.
What does a Pranasalt sachet cost?
A one-time 150-sachet box costs €79 in the EU or £69 in the UK, about €0.53 or 46p per sachet. The monthly plan costs €69 or £59, about €0.46 or 39p per sachet. Use as much or as little as you like with each meal.
More ideas for your meals
Turn bland into extraordinary
Choose your box