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You might wonder why some cookbooks call for coriander in recipes and others ask for cilantro. Perhaps you are unsure why there are signs in the supermarket saying both cilantro and coriander. Are these two items the same thing? What is coriander and what is cilantro?

The herb cilantro is an herb that is quite versatile and is actually part of the carrot family. You can use it either fresh or dried and it has a very tasty flavor along the line of citrus. The spice, coriander, actually comes from the coriander plant and they are harvested and then dried to be used later. The leaves and stems of the plant are what are known as the herb cilantro.

For many years, cilantro has been used for cooking and baking; in fact, even the ancient Egyptians used it. There are Egyptian writings that mention coriander seeds and the seeds have also been found in ancient Egyptian tombs as well.

Some stores sell Mexican parsley and this resembles cilantro. It is actually the same herb because Mexican parsley, coriander, and cilantro all come from the coriander plant. Cilantro is widely used in Mexican and Caribbean cuisine, perhaps as much as parsley is used in American cuisine. Cilantro is becoming very popular as a cookery ingredient in western and southwestern parts of the United States.

Cilantro can be found in nearly any supermarket and will be in the produce section. You buy it in a bunch. You can tell the difference between parsley and cilantro by looking at the leaves and smelling it. Cilantro has a stronger, more pungent small and the leaves are wider than parsley leaves.

Cilantro can be used in dips, dressings, salsas, and sauces. Some Chinese recipes use Chinese parsley, which is actually another name for cilantro. Coriander features in many Asian recipes and also everything from hearty stews to curries. It also complements many different meat and fish recipes.

If you buy cilantro and bring it home, you should rinse it and shake off the excess water, then put it in a glass of water with just the stems below the water. Cover the leaves with a plastic bag. This is much better than drying the cilantro because it preserves the flavor and it will keep for about a week. If you live somewhere very hot, you can store the cilantro on the top shelf of the refrigerator.

When you are ready to use the cilantro in a recipe, you can crush it with a pestle and mortar to release the flavor and aroma. Alternative you can use the leaves whole or roughly torn in salads. If you are cooking with cilantro, add it to the recipe near the end of the cooking time because its delicate nature does not do well when heated. Coriander and cilantro are versatile ingredients and if you are experimenting with flavorsome stews, curries, or other dishes, try adding a little to perk up the flavor of the dish.