Cilantro

What is cilantro?

Did you know that the cilantro herb is actually… coriander? “Cilantro” is actually Spanish for the word coriander.

However, in the United States, they aren’t one and the same. We refer to the seeds of the coriander plant as “coriander,” while the leaves and stems are dubbed “cilantro.” Other countries call it all coriander, though they may differentiate between the leaf and seed portions by referring to the seeds as “coriander seeds.”

What does Cilantro taste like?

You will find cilantro to have a sort of citrusy flavor. It’s very fragrant, and its taste makes it great for Mexican dishes in particular. Guacamole, salsa, tacos, and huevos rancheros all benefit from using it as a garnish. However, it can also be used on soup, sandwiches chili, rice, roasted vegetables, stir fry, etc. Where a strong and citrusy herb is needed, it is often a perfect contender!

Though you can use both the leaves and the stems, you will likely find the leaves to contain the best flavor. I often omit the stems altogether for this reason.