Coriander

Summary

Coriander (cilantro), or coriandre in French and sometimes called Chinese parsley. The leaves of the herb (cilantro) are very fragrant and the seeds of the plant (coriander) are used as a spice, either whole or ground.

Coriander is in the parsnip and carrot family, biologically speaking. In Westerns Canada, we grow mainly a larger-seeded variety compared to smaller seeds from the Mediterranean. We export most of our coriander seeds to the United States.

Hate cilantro?

Well, you might be genetically pre-disposed to dislike it. It has been traced to a gene in which some people find it "unpleasant" and others find that it tastes like soap.

2022 foodstory Coriander

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Ways to Cook

Cilantro has a sweet and citrusy taste. Coriander seed is very widely used all across the Middle East, Central America, and Asia. Fresh seeds (green) are particularly fragrant. Dried cilantro is available but most chefs don't use it as it pales in comparison to fresh herbs which are available in most supermarkets. Its international uses make it a common herb to come by. We see it on top of Vietnamese pho, Mexican tacos, Chinese stir-fries, Indian curries and the like.

Coriander seed is used for all sorts of marinades, brines, dressings, pickles, sauces, spice blends, and pastries. It is a key spice in curries. Besides culinary uses, coriander has medicinal values said to cure certain digestive problems and the essential oil can be used as a topical aid to treat rheumatic pains.

Often with parsley, we pick the leaves for certain dishes and we use the stems for others. With cilantro, it is more common to chop the leaves as well as the stems together. There is a lot of flavour in the stems but just make sure not to use large stems close to the base or they will be stringy.

One little culinary tip to keep in your own compendium is to finish Mediterranean or Middle East dishes with a hit of toasted coriander oil to liven it up. Heat a small amount of neutral oil in a pan, add coriander seeds to toast and release the flavours, then spoon it on a dish just before serving.

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Coriander Recipe Links

Some of our favourite videos

Alberta Coriander Producers

Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap to Some People? https://www.britannica.com/story/why-does-cilantro-taste-like-soap-to-some-people#:~:text=Of%20course%20some%20of%20this,flavored%20aldehydes%20in%20cilantro%20leaves

https://open.alberta.ca/publications/4266869