Does Coriander Taste Like Cilantro? This guide will answer all your doubts!

You may have suddenly found yourself in a bit of a situation; you’re in your local market to purchase some Cilantro but out of bad luck, they’ve run out.

Out of the blue, you remember coming across an article on the internet that talks about Coriander being similar to Cilantro…

Of course, you can’t just skip on making your delicious creamy chicken cilantro, especially when you’ve got loved one’s coming over for dinner…

However, before you decide to purchase that pack of spice, you need to know more about this potential replacement.

You surely wouldn’t want to end up making a meal that isn’t even remotely similar to what you’re used to.

Let’s go over some of the similarities and differences in Cilantro vs Coriander, so you can make an educated decision on your purchase!

Read on below to know more about this…

Does Coriander Taste Like Cilantro?

As many of you may not know, Coriander is a spice that has been used for centuries.

It’s commonly found in Indian and Mexican cuisine, but it can be used in any type of cooking and recipe such as soups and stews.

This spice is popular all over the world due to its versatility and as well as its flavor.

On the other hand, Cilantro is usually used for sauces, dips, and other salsas. This herb is often found in Thai and Indian dishes, but it’s also common when making salads or tacos.

So to answer the question “Do these two spices taste the same?”

The short answer is yes: both are possible to use for cooking because they somehow taste similar... But they do have some differences that can affect how successful your dish may come out.

Although both of these spices come from the same plant, the flavor is different due to how they are harvested at certain times.

Well, knowing that these spices indeed have differences, let’s go over them one by one so you can make the best choice for your dish.

How They Taste:

As mentioned above, the flavor of the spices is determined by the way they are harvested.

Coriander is harvested when it’s just starting to grow, and Cilantro when it has fully grown leaves on the plant.

The taste of Coriander will be milder than that of the other spice because Coriander is not left to grow as long before harvesting.

If you want a more pronounced flavor in your dish with a little hint of citrus, you’ll want to use Cilantro as your herb. The ingredient is known to give out a taste that can be spicy and tangy.

Coriander, on the other hand, is the more mild choice, since it gives out a flavor that is more earthy and nutty. This spice provides a unique flavor that’s lighter tasting than Cilantro.

If you’re not looking for anything too overpowering in your dish, then this may just be what you need.

How They Smell:

When it comes to cooking, we all want our finished product to smell amazing, since who doesn’t want their home to smell like a five-star restaurant?

Coriander is considered to be the more fragrant of the two spices and has been said that it smells like citrus. 

When you cook with Cilantro, on the other hand, it’s known for giving off an aroma reminiscent of pine needles or parsley.

If you want your dish to have a milder scent, then it would be a good idea to use Coriander.

But if you’re looking for something that will make your home smell like the holidays when cooking or want a more fragrant dish, then Cilantro might just be what you need.

How They’re Used:

Each spice is used differently due to the taste they give a dish. When it comes to standard cooking such as roasting, baking, or simmering for soups and stews, Cilantro is often used.

The use of Coriander is much more universal in the types of meal it accompanies but has been known to be paired well with Indian courses such as curry and as well as salads.

The ingredient can also be found in Mexican cuisines such as tacos and Quesadillas.

It’s not only the taste of these spices that make them popular, but their appearance is another reason they are so desired.

Cilantro leaves look similar to parsley while the other resembles cumin seeds or caraway seeds.

Their Nutrient Content:

Of course, we all want to have a meal that doesn’t only taste good but is also beneficial to our health.

Knowing what nutrients and vitamins we get from these two ingredients are a good way to make the best decision when cooking.

Coriander has been found to have higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C.

The other, on the other hand, doesn’t contain any antioxidant properties but does provide protection against chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Both are rich in iron, with Coriander containing around five times as much iron. It also provides us with more dietary fiber, vitamin A, and calcium.

The other has a higher amount of potassium than the other ingredient, but both provide us with manganese and magnesium, which are essential in regulating blood sugar levels.

The Newly Acquired Learning

This section has certainly helped us learn a lot. You now know that Coriander may taste similarly to Cilantro but has different aspects.

You also know their differences based on smell, uses, and nutrient content.

With all of these things in mind, we’re sure you’ll be able to make the right choice when it comes to determining which ingredient would be best for your dish.

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s head on to our next topic which is…

What Does Coriander Seed Taste Like?

Alright, you might be confused about Coriander and Coriander seed. However, to make things simpler the difference between these two ingredients are :

Coriander is the ground root, but Coriander seed is made from the fruit of the plant. The two are both from the same plant but are different because of several factors such as the way they were processed.

Coriander seed is less spicy, has a sweeter taste, and contains more oil than the root, which can make it easier to digest.

This spice should be used in dishes that are supposed to have a mild flavor such as meatballs because of its subtlety. It also goes well with other food like pickles.

There are many benefits that this seed gives you, all thanks to its natural oils. They can help you with digestion, prevent bad breath and most importantly it has anti-inflammatory properties to keep your body’s inflammation levels in check.

But how is this usually used in cooking? Is it similarly used as the root? Head on below to know the answer!

How to Use Coriander Seed When Cooking

When it comes to cooking with Coriander seed, it’s quite different from the root. If you’re cooking the root, you need to peel it and then cut it into small pieces.

On the flip side, If you’re cooking the seed, you’ll have to grind them, so the seeds can release their flavor.

One way to incorporate Coriander seeds into your dish is by adding them right after you’ve placed in the other spices, just before you pour your liquid so it doesn’t over-power and affect the flavor of the other spices.

You can also bake them to release their flavor and aroma or perhaps by adding oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and cook for about 30 seconds.

You’ll then want to transfer them into a grinder or mortar with a pestle and crush it up.

People find that doing this method is much better since it gives out a more distinct flavor such as bay leaves compared to what you’ll get by just grinding the Coriander in a regular blender and tossing it right into your dish.

Section Summary

As we’re about to reach the end of this reading journey, we’re now aware of a couple of things including the difference between a Coriander seed and root, the benefit of the seed, and how to add it to your cooking.

Regardless of whether you’re an experienced cook or just an amateur, it would be a good idea to have this knowledge in your arsenal.

Now before you head out to try all of these things you’ve learned, let’s finally have our…

Last Words

This reading journey has indeed been a long one, but we can certainly say that it was worth it.

You now know the answer to “Does Coriander taste like Cilantro?” along with a lot of other helpful things which can help you make a better decision in the kitchen.

We’re confident that this newly acquired knowledge will make your cooking experience that much more enjoyable and fruitful.

The next time you find yourself in the kitchen with no idea what to substitute for your missing ingredients, just remember this article and you’ll be able to whip up a healthy dish in under five minutes!