Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome Nutrition Cooking Without Onions or Garlic on a Low-FODMAP Diet By Victoria Groce Victoria Groce LinkedIn Victoria Groce is a medical writer living with celiac disease who specializes in writing about dietary management of food allergies. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 05, 2022 Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Jay Yepuri, MD, MS, is board-certified in gastroenterology. He is a partner with Digestive Health Associates of Texas and a medical director at Texas Health Harris Methodist HEB Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Onions and garlic are very high in fructan, which is one carbohydrates in the group of the fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) that are believed to contribute to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Marshall Gordon / Cole Group / Photodisc / Getty Images People on a low-FODMAP diet try to avoid them. Other people may find they have food intolerances that can be triggered by these foods. Cooking without them can be difficult. Here are some strategies. Understanding FODMAPs to Manage IBS Symptoms Garlic and Onion Use in Cooking Garlic and onions are often used in cooking as aromatics—foods that add a savory aroma and flavor to other dishes. They're found in cuisines around the world, making it difficult to avoid them by sticking to foods from a certain geographical area. Often, garlic and onions are added at the very beginning of cooking to mellow their flavors before building a sauce, soup, or other complex dishes. Leaving Them Out Can you just leave the garlic and onions out of a recipe? Sometimes. You'll usually get acceptable results—it's not the same as leaving eggs out of a cake. However, most people would find some recipes unacceptably bland. Consider adapting the recipe with a substitute rather than simply dropping the alliums if: Onions or garlic are the only flavorings in the recipeOnions or garlic are a major part of the recipeOnions or garlic are used raw or lightly cooked In these situations, the flavor of onion or garlic may be critical to a delicious dish. Most of the time, though, you can find a good substitute. Food Allergen-Free Substitutes for Your Kitchen Aromatics Beyond Onions and Garlic No unrelated vegetable has quite the same taste as onions or garlic, but some aromatics that may be good options for cooking include: Fennel has a licorice-like taste but onion-like texture. Try it with chicken or fish.Celery is among the most common aromatics.Bell peppers are often used in Cajun cooking. Green peppers and celery are a good base for rice dishes or savory stews.Carrots are used as an aromatic in French cooking in combination with celery.Celeriac, or celery root, is the knobby root of one variety of celery. Peeled and diced, it can be used as an aromatic in sauces or stews. Substitute Herbs and Spices Garlic chives, an herb with a garlicky flavor, are an obvious substitute, but here are other herbs and spices you may find useful: Peppercorns—white, pink, or Szechuan—can add different flavors to your cooking.Cumin's distinctive taste that may work well in some recipes, especially where garlic is used raw.Horseradish, freshly grated, can add some of the pungent notes you might otherwise lack.Ginger and galangal have distinctive flavors but may be useful in stir-fries as aromatics.Asafoetida is a spice from India with a very strong smell that, when added to warm oil, tastes much like garlic and onions. You need only a sprinkle, as it's very strongly flavored. Garlic or Onion Powders and Salts Garlic powder and garlic salt are made from dehydrated, finely ground garlic. Onion powder and salt, likewise, are made from onions. Ask your gastroenterologist or doctor before trying another form of a food that has caused painful symptoms in the past. Infused Oil for Low-FODMAP Diets Those avoiding garlic and onions due to FODMAPs can use garlic-infused oil as the fructans are not fat-soluble. You can buy infused oil or saute onions and garlic in oil and discard the solids before using it in your dish immediately. Note that making your own infused oil and storing it has a risk of botulism, so you may want to buy commercially prepared infused oil for safety. Frequently Asked Questions If garlic upsets my stomach, can I use garlic powder in recipes? Usually, garlic powder, which is a dehydrated version of garlic, can be used to give food flavor without irritating your stomach. If you’re on a special diet for medical reasons and garlic is not allowed, talk to your doctor before including garlic powder. Learn More: Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Are all onions high in FODMAPs? No. While most onions are high in FODMAPs, chives or the green part of spring onions are not and can be used as replacement for regular onion. Dried forms of onion are also not high in FODMAPs and can be used in most dishes. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Whelan K, Martin LD, Staudacher HM, Lomer MCE. The low FODMAP diet in the management of irritable bowel syndrome: an evidence-based review of FODMAP restriction, reintroduction and personalisation in clinical practice. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018;31(2):239-255. doi:10.1111/jhn.12530 U.S. Department of Agriculture. Can you get botulism from garlic oil? Iacovou M, Tan V, Muir JG, Gibson PR. The low FODMAP diet and its application in East and Southeast Asia. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;21(4):459-470. doi: 10.5056/jnm15111 By Victoria Groce Victoria Groce is a medical writer living with celiac disease who specializes in writing about dietary management of food allergies. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit