One of the more common substitutes for bay leaves is dried or fresh thyme. You can directly replace bay for thyme and keep the quantities called for in your recipe. Thyme comes from the mint family and is known for its subtle, dry aroma. It is great in soups, stews and other recipes where bay is used.
Use basil instead of bay in your cooking if you are making a tomato or vegetable dish. Like thyme, basil is related to mint and gives off a sweet, herbal scent. It is widely used in Asian and Italian cooking and works well with chicken, lamb and fish. You can use the same amount of basil as bay.
Substitute bay for oregano if you are cooking chicken, lamb or beef meat dishes. Oregano is also great with tomatoes and is used as an additive to chili powder. It gives off a strong aroma while cooking, making it a good substitute for bay. Mexican oregano has a stronger flavor than regular oregano. You can use the same amount of oregano as bay.