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?

To begin with, cilantro is a herb, which is part of the carrot family. It is tasty and very versatile for cooking. It comes fresh or dried and tastes a bit like citrus. Coriander is a spice, which comes from the coriander plant. It is harvested and then dried. The leaves and stems of the coriander plant are known as cilantro. Cilantro leaves look a little like flat Italian parsley and in fact, the two herbs are related.

The history of cilantro is very interesting. It has been used for baking and cooking since ancient Egyptian times. A lot of ancient Egyptian writings mention coriander seeds and these seeds have also been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs.

There are some stores that actually have what is called Mexican parsley and you will notice it looks like cilantro. This is actually the same herb and cilantro, Mexican parsley, and coriander seeds all come for the coriander plant. In Mexico, cilantro is an herb that is quite versatile within Mexican cooking and is often used much as parsley is in America cuisine.

You can find cilantro in almost any supermarket, located in the produce section. Cilantro is sold in a bunch and is tied up similar to the way that parsley is. Of course, it is fairly easy to differentiate between parsley and cilantro by smelling them or by taking a close look at the leaves. Cilantro has wider leaves than parsley does and it also has a more distinct scent as well.

The herb, cilantro, is used in many sauces, salsas, tasty dips, and in dressings as well. Even some Chinese recipes call for Chinese parsley, which is the very same herb as cilantro.

If you purchase cilantro and bring it home, you should place it in a glass of water with only the stems left in the water. Then you can use a plastic bag to cover up the leaves. This helps to make sure that you keep the tasty flavor and it is much better than drying the cilantro.

When you are ready to add the cilantro to a recipe, you can crush the leaves with a pestle and mortar. This releases the flavors and aroma of this wonderful herb. If you are cooking with cilantro, add it towards the end because it is a delicate herb and cooking destroys its aroma and flavor.