Chef Amina

Chef Amina is the recipe developer and culinary problem-solver behind CookingSubstitutes. With over a decade of hands-on cooking experience navigating dietary restrictions, tiny kitchens, and last-minute pantry crises, she's mastered the art of making delicious food accessible to everyone. From hotel room hot plates to camping stoves, Amina has cooked in unconventional spaces around the world—and she's here to prove you don't need a fully-stocked pantry or endless time to create amazing meals. When she's not testing ingredient swaps in her home kitchen, you'll find her experimenting with gluten-free baking or hunting down the best travel-friendly cooking gear.

Recipes, Drink Recipes

Banana Blueberry Smoothie Recipe – Thick, Creamy & Ready in 5 Minutes

Banana blueberry smoothie in a glass mason jar with stainless steel straw, surrounded by fresh blueberries and banana on white marble

I’ll be honest. There was a phase in my life where breakfast was a granola bar grabbed on the way out the door — or nothing at all. I was traveling constantly, cooking in hotel rooms and Airbnbs, and mornings…

Chef Amina

Substitutes

Egg Substitute for Cookies: 7 Best Options Tested

Seven egg substitutes for cookies arranged in small bowls on a wooden kitchen counter with fresh baked cookies in the background

If you’ve ever opened your fridge mid-baking session only to find zero eggs staring back at you, you know that mild panic feeling. I’ve been there more times than I can count. The good news? Finding the right egg substitute…

Chef Amina

Recipes, Drink Recipes

Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie — Thick, Creamy & Ready in 5 Minutes

Thick and creamy strawberry blueberry smoothie in a clear glass garnished with fresh berries on white marble

I’ll be honest with you — I make a strawberry blueberry smoothie at least four times a week. Not because I have to. Because once you nail the ratio, it becomes the one thing you actually look forward to in…

Chef Amina

Recipes, Dessert Recipes

🍓 The Best Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe (Sweet, Tart & Never Runny!)

A golden-crusted strawberry rhubarb pie recipe cooling on a wooden table with fresh strawberries and rhubarb scattered around it.

Every summer, the moment I spot rhubarb at my local farmers market, I know exactly what I’m making. My strawberry rhubarb pie recipe has been on repeat in my kitchen for over a decade now, and I still get excited…

Chef Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Espresso Machine for Home in 2026 – Chef Amina’s Honest Picks

best espresso machine for home on a kitchen counter pulling a rich espresso shot with golden crema

Let me be honest with you. I spent years thinking an espresso machine was something only baristas or coffee snobs needed. I made my morning coffee in a drip machine, I was happy, and I didn’t ask too many questions.…

Chef Amina

Drink Recipes, Recipes

Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade – The Chick-fil-A Copycat You’ll Make All Summer

Homemade pineapple dragonfruit lemonade in a tall glass with ice, pineapple slices, and dragonfruit on a white marble surface

If you’ve ever tried pineapple dragonfruit lemonade and thought, “I need this in my life every single day” — same. I had my first sip of the Chick-fil-A version on a hot afternoon in July, standing in a drive-thru line…

Chef Amina

Drink Recipes, Recipes

How to Make a Cherry Smoothie (Creamy, Easy & Absolutely Delicious)

Cherry smoothie recipe served in a tall glass with fresh cherries on top, photographed on white marble

If you’ve been searching for the perfect cherry smoothie recipe, you just found it. I’ve made this smoothie more times than I can count — in my home kitchen, in a tiny hotel room, and even at a friend’s place…

Chef Amina

Soup Recipes, Recipes

French Onion Soup Mix Recipe: The Easiest Way to Make It at Home

Homemade french onion soup mix in a glass jar with dried spices on a rustic wooden table

I still remember the first time I ran out of french onion soup mix right in the middle of making a pot roast. It was a Sunday afternoon, my crock pot was already out, the beef was thawed, and I…

Chef Amina

Substitutes

Best Gruyere Cheese Substitute (That Actually Works!)

Best gruyere cheese substitute options displayed on a rustic wooden cheese board with various cheeses, nuts, and herbs

If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen staring at a recipe that calls for gruyere cheese — and then stared at your wallet — you already know the struggle. Gruyere is delicious, but it’s also not always easy to find,…

Chef Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Non Toxic Air Fryer: What I Use in My Kitchen (And What I’d Never Touch)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I would use in my own kitchen. If you’ve been cooking…

Chef Amina

Dessert Recipes

Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls That Are Soft, Gooey, and Totally Worth It

I still remember the first time I made raspberry cinnamon rolls. I was standing in my kitchen on a Sunday morning, staring at a bowl of fresh raspberries I had bought and completely forgot to eat. I didn’t want to…

Chef Amina

Mutton Recipes

Moroccan Lamb Stew — Rich, Warming, and Packed With Flavor

Moroccan lamb stew served in a rustic ceramic pot garnished with fresh cilantro

The first time I made Moroccan lamb stew, I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into. I had a pack of stew meat sitting in my fridge, a cabinet full of spices, and zero plan for dinner. I threw…

Chef Amina

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