Ground turmeric is an economical saffron substitute to use when you only want the dark threads for the golden yellow hue that they impart into foods and drinks — think paellas and risottos ...

How to substitute: Add saffron closer to the end of cooking to retain most of the spice's flavors. A little saffron also goes a long way—use 1/4 teaspoon of saffron for every teaspoon of turmeric ...