1. Basil, often referred to as the “king of herbs”, has a fragrant flavor profile with a minty kick almost like pepper. This herb is a popular choice when looking for a substitute for dried Tarragon. Thyme. If you don't have marjoram you can substitute: Fresh oregano which will be a bit stronger so you may want to use a little bit less. Marjoram is a common herb that offers a unique pine and citrus flavor combination. Some of the very common dried Tarragon substitutes are Marjoram, Rosemary, Dill, and Oregano. Use the same amount of basil as the marjoram that is called for in your recipe. It has a sweet taste with hints of both pine and citrus. It can be used in cooking, fresh or dried. Marjoram generally comes in two forms: fresh and dried. If you want your substitution to work, it is best to substitute fresh marjoram with fresh herbs, dried marjoram with dried herbs. Both basil and parsley surprised me with a 2 to 1 fresh to dried . … OR - Use 1 teaspoon dried marjoram for each tablespoon fresh called for. Marjoram is a common herb found in many kitchens. OR - To vary the flavor use equal amounts of fresh basil; OR - Use 1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning. 3. While oregano is the closest substitute for marjoram, there are other herbs you can use in dishes that call for it. 2. Marjoram. For example, you would substitute 1 fresh bay leaf for 2 dried or 1 medium onion for 1 teaspoon onion powder. I did a search on the Internet to see what I could find for these conversions and came up with this chart. Since it has a sweet flavor, Marjoram is commonly added to soups, sauces and dressings, and stews. Dried herbs often lose much of their aroma, so you can use dried or ground basil to replace dried marjoram. Other Substitutes for Marjoram. In contrast to the citrusy and sweet notes the marjoram has, fresh basil might not be the perfect replacement. However, ground or dried basil can work in its place. Basil works best when used as a marjoram replacement in pasta sauces and stews. It is a staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, and you can find it in recipes for seafood, pasta, soups, stews, sauces, and others. 1. Popular in French, North American and Mediterranean cooking; marjoram adds flavor depth to vegetables, mild fish like red snapper, sausages, poultry, scrambled eggs, stuffing, and any tomato-based dish such as spaghetti Bolognese.