The Best Coriander {Cilantro} Recipes

Whether you call it coriander or cilantro; do you love those herby citrussy flavours? I do! If you’re a fan like me, there’s so much you can do with it: here are fifty recipes featuring this endlessly adaptable and totally delicious herb.

Coriander  / Cilantro – an overview

I’m talking here about the leafy herb, not coriander seeds. Commonly found in Asian cooking (it’s place of origin); it’s normally described as having a tart lemon/lime taste. In the UK, it’s called coriander, but in the US most people would call it cilantro – two words for the same thing.

Why the two names? This is normally ascribed to the strong Hispanic influences in the US, as that’s what it’s called in Spain, and from there migrated to Mexico and northwards to the US.

Just to confuse matters, some in the US call the seeds coriander. It’ll normally be clear what a recipe is referring to by context and amounts used, though.

Why do some people hate cilantro / coriander ?

Because, to them it tastes of soap. Really! It’s genetic – something between 4 and 14 percent of the population have a gene that means they smell, and therefore taste, the chemicals in coriander that are the same as the ones in soap.

How to store cilantro / coriander

Coriander is notorious for wilting within a second of taking it out of its packet. It’s therefore best if you can to have a plant and snip off what you need. Otherwise, buy little and often, and freeze what you don’t use. We find frozen coriander much better than dried.

Dressings, dips and sauce recipes using coriander / cilantro

Jazz up your dressings, dips and sauces with one of these recipes using coriander. Don’t restrict the dressings to salads – not that they’re not a great change from yet another vinaigrette – but try them on grilled meat or stirred into pasta rather than pesto. Vibrant colours and bursting with flavour, a coriander based dressing, dip or sauce both looks appetizing and tastes great!

Green Goddess Dressing – ideal for all those half packets of herbs, including coriander

Mojo verde – a Canarian Green Sauce made of coriander, garlic, olive oil and cumin

Sriracha Ranch Dressing – a creamy but vegan fresh herby dressing

Coriander Mint Chutney – coriander and mint combine with some chilli to make the perfect accompanied to Indian food

Parsley Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce – coriander also pairs brilliantly with parsley in this adaptable sauce  (photo below)

Coconut Coriander Chutney – in this south Indian recipe coriander is paired with coconut

5-ingredient authentic Mexican salsa – simple, but delicious and packed with coriander

Avocado, lime & coriander dressing  – this is basically guacamole in pourable form!

Mojo Sauce – a zesty, spicy, herby garlic sauce

Green salsa with fresh tomatillos – fresher than fresh and ready in 5 minutes

Red Lentil, Lime & Coriander Hummus – a great variation on the chickpea and tahini favourite

Easy soup recipes using coriander (cilantro)

Making soup from scratch might take a few more minutes than popping open a can, but the results are so worth it. From the old carrot and coriander favourte to something more exotic like Portuguese bread and garlic with coriander and fresh shrimp, there’s a delicious coriander-flavoured soup here for every level of complication you could want.

Carrot and coriander soup – surely the classic soup with coriander?

 

Pho Ga Vietnamese Chicken Soup – classic pho – sweet, sour and savoury (image above)

Peruvian Chicken and Cilantro Soup – chicken soup with a south American twist

Coriander and Tofu Soup – simple and refreshing

Chicken Tortilla Soup – the perfect nourishing comfort food

Coriander and sweetcorn soup – fresh and summery with lime and spices

Portuguese Bread and Garlic Soup with Coriander and Fresh Shrimp – the perfect flavour packed summer soup

Salad recipes using cilantro (coriander)

Three salad recipes that let you enjoy fresh coriander. Hearty grain, pulse or corn based salads that can be a whole meal in their own right.

Mexican mixed grain salad – with barley, quinoa and farro (image above)

Mexican Street Corn Salad – a vegan version of this classic

Chickpea salad with coriander dressing – keep a batch in the fridge!

Best Ever Low-Carb Thai Beef Salad  – combine beef with coriander, mint and basil for a herb explosion

Easy vegetarian main meals using cilantro

Here are some great meals that are not just for vegetarians, but are suitable for all. Enjoy them on a meat-free Monday (or on any other day of the week, frankly. How about discovering the delights of a meat reducing diet!); fresh tasting coriander really lifts these dishes.

Sweet potato tacos with avocado salsa – so easy and adaptable (image above)

Kothimbir Vadi – coriander croquettes, Indian street food style

Coriander falafels – oil free, oven baked and vegan

Soba noodles with coriander – the perfect simple veggie bowl recipe (image above)

Carrot, coriander and chickpea burgers – everyone needs a good veggie burger!

Bean and pumpkin curry – super quick and easy

Easy chicken and meat dishes using cilantro /coriander?

While I do follow a meat-reducing diet, so I’m not vegetarian so these recipes are most welcome. Here are a whole range of recipes for chicken and meat with influences from around the world.

Steak with avocado dressing – one to serve at the summer BBQ (image above)

Beef Mini Roast with a Chutney and Coriander Glaze – a mini roast is perfect for two, and quick to cook

Hariyali Chicken Tikka – chicken kebabs in a coriander sauce

Pork tacos with a coriander dressing – served in home made coconut tortilla

Beef Koftas with Sag Aloo – make your own Indian favourite

Coriander and lime chicken kebabs – simple, delicious and a classic

BBQ chicken, bacon and coriander pizza – ideal for using up bits and bobs

Chicken thighs and potatoes with coriander – a fantastic one pot dish

Easy fish and seafood dishes using cilantro /coriander

And now fish and seafood recipes, from BBQ-perfect shrimp to a more sophisticated tuna cakes suitable for dinner.

Fish tacos – in a 7 Up batter!

Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa – fresh, lime-y and zesty. Perfect for a BBQ!

Thai Mussels – a South East Asian twist on the French classic, pictured above

Thai Baked Salmon with Cilantro-Chili Sauce -contrast rich salmon flavours with a touch of chili heat

Tuna Cakes with Jalapeño And Cilantro – spice up tuna with hot jalapeno peppers

Easy grains and rice based dishes using cilantro /coriander

Finally, some more rice and other grain based recipes that feature coriander.

Jalapeño, coriander and lime rice – classic flavours in this rice dish

Southwest Quinoa Salad with Green Chile Avocado Dressing – superfood quinoa salad with a coriander dressing

Cauliflower rice bowl with coriander – low carb and quick and easy

Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans – perfect for filling tacos

Quinoa Bowls with Winter Squash, Spinach and Cilantro-Lime Dressing  – pictured above

Other Recipes Using Coriander/Cilantro

Charred Lime Gin & Tonic with Fresh Cilantro  – a tasty riff on the much loved mixed drink.

Cucumber Cilantro Yogurt Smoothie  – start the day with coriander in your green smoothie

Fresh Peas & Mint Cilantro Vinaigrette – a side dish with peas and coriander

Fresh Pineapple with Citrus Herb Glaze – finally, a coriander based garnish to an extra flavours to fresh pineapple.

This post is dedicated to the memory of fellow blogger Isabella, her blog Coriander Queen named after her love of coriander, who died of cancer in 2017.    I’d know she had been ill for sometime, and she had posted about her progress to her blogging friends on Facebook, we were thrilled when she had had good news, and married the love of her life.   Then there was the silence, the tailing off of blog posts, of twitter and Instagram.   Then the dreadful news that the cancer had come back and she had lost her fight.

I remember Isabella by her optimism, her kindness and lovely cheerful profile photo with her beautiful smile looking warm and cosy in a woolly hat and fluffy scarf.

I hope you approve of this collection of coriander recipes in your memory Isabella.