The round, tan-colored seeds obtained from the coriander plant are used in everyday shopping. In addition, these seeds are added to many dishes to give them a sweet and floral aroma. The herb is not only flavorful but also beneficial to your health. People incorporate the herb into several remedies.
Want to know more about this unique plant? Then keep reading, as this article will guide you through all the essential aspects of herbs.
Coriander Seeds
The coriander plant bear leaves and seeds. The plant usually seeds from late spring to the early summer season. The coriander seeds are light brown, hollow, and round in appearance. People use them as a seasoning, and we can convert them into various forms such as powdered, oil, unprocessed, etc. Coriander seeds are among the significant Middle Eastern, Indian, Latin, Asian, French, Greek, and Caribbean cuisines.
How to grow and harvest Coriander?
It is easy to grow the coriander plant in your kitchen garden. This fragrant and anti-oxidant-rich plant can also be grown in trays and pots containing nutrient-rich general-purpose compost. This Guide to Coriander Uses and Health Benefits will mention some of the most straightforward steps to plant and harvest it.
- The best seasons to plant coriander seeds are the late spring and fall. If you plant it in the summer, then there are chances that the plant will bolt and turn out to be bitter.
- Look for a sunny site in your garden to grow this plant.
- Plant the coriander seeds in well-drained soil with a PH of 6.2 to 6.8.
- Sow the seeds separately at a distance of 1 to 2 inches.
- Don’t forget to water the plant regularly.
- If you encounter any insects on the plant, then use insecticidal soap.
- When the harvesting season comes, cut the plant’s stem and shake it in a bag to automatically fall off the ripened seeds. If you don’t want to continue harvesting, remove the entire plant.
How to Store and Preserve the Seeds?
With proper preservation methods, you can store the whole seed for a year and the ground seeds for two to six months.
If you want to store coriander seeds, keep them in an airtight container. Exposure to air can reduce their shelf life. Please store them in a cool location because volatile substances such as the essential oils of Coriander are known to evaporate when the temperature rises. Avoid keeping them in an area where light can start the photodegradation phenomenon, resulting in a loss of flavor and aroma of the seeds.
If you want to store the coriander leaves, more commonly known as cilantro, freeze or dry them. Put the cilantro leaves in a container or a resealable bag and keep them in the refrigerator. For the drying method, hang the leaves in a hot area until they are thoroughly dried, and then keep the cilantro leaves in a container.
What is the difference between Coriander and Cilantro?
The coriander seed and cilantro are from the same plant, Corian drum sativum. However, it is not obvious when somebody refers to Coriander because it is usually associated with the leaves and dried seeds.
The word cilantro is derived from the Spanish language. It is used only for the herbaceous leaves obtained from the coriander plant. In contrast, people use Coriander for seeds, plant leaves, and stems.
What is the taste/flavor of Coriander?
Although coriander seeds and leaves come from the same plant, they differ in their flavors. We use coriander seeds in curries, soups, and rice dishes because of their warm and spicy taste. When toasted, they give off an earthy, tart, and floral flavor.
In contrast, we use the fresh green leaves of the coriander plant, cilantro, for garnishing because of their refreshing, citrusy, and herbaceous flavor. However, some have also said these green leaves taste like soap and metal.
Can you Substitute Coriander with any other herbs and spices?
Suppose you are not coriander and are searching for suitable substitutes. In that case, your search is over because you can replace coriander seeds and leaves with many other herbs and spices available in the market.
In exchange for coriander seeds, other options include cumin, caraway, fennel, garam masala, and curry powder. All these spices blend nicely into dishes and can leave a delicious taste in your mouth.
Instead of coriander leaf or cilantro, you can use parsley, tarragon, dill, basil leaf, and herb mixtures. When properly cut and garnished, these substitutes give various dishes a bright, refreshing, tangy flavor.
Uses of Coriander
Some people use it to cook everyday dishes. For example, you can use it to prepare soups, curries, pickles, masalas, baked goods, etc. The leaves are used mainly in their unprocessed form. In contrast, we roast the seeds, ground them, or dry them before adding them to the dishes.
Does Coriander closely resemble flat-leaf parsley?
The coriander leaf, more commonly known as cilantro, closely resembles parsley. This resemblance is because both plants belong to the same botanical family, Apiaceous.
Other than appearance, there is a way to differentiate between parsley and cilantro. The coriander leaf has a significantly stronger taste, while the parsley has a milder and more subtle flavor and scent.
Forms of Coriander
The Coriander can be converted into different forms depending on the need. Follow mentioned are some of the ways the plant can be transformed, stored, and used:
? Purees and pastes: Keeping the herb fresh in your kitchen for a long time is challenging, so many people tend to convert it into pastes and purees. We can prepare the paste with chilies, garlic, yogurt, and any ingredient.
? Coriander Powder: You can obtain the powder by grinding the seeds. You can prepare the powder at home, but it is also available in the markets. We use it as a spice.
? Dried Coriander fruit: The dried fruit is the seed.
? Coriander oil: You can obtain it from the coriander leaves by boiling and blending them with other oils such as olive oil. It is perfect for digestion.
? Essential oil: It is prepared from coriander seeds by steam distillation. It is very beneficial for health and treats various skin diseases.
? Fresh leaves can be obtained from the plant and utilized in garnishing cuisines.
? Processed and unprocessed forms: The coriander plant is withered and dried artificially in many countries. Most often, people use unprocessed herb plants as a whole.
What are the Health Benefits of Coriander?
The coriander plant has many health benefits, so it is recommended that you incorporate it into your everyday cooking. The herb is an anti-oxidant-rich plant, boosting immunity and fighting radicals in the body.
It is highly beneficial for diabetes patients because it helps lower blood sugar levels. It is also known to improve brain and heart health.
The recommended amount to be taken
There is no such recommended amount because the daily serving size of the herb depends upon the person’s health, age, and many other factors. Coriander is usually safe to use daily, but too much can cause allergic reactions.
Where to buy them?
You can buy Coriander seeds and leaves because they are available in every other grocery store.
Conclusion
Adding Coriander to your dishes would be great because it gives them a pleasant flavor. While looking at all the health benefits, you can also grow it in your kitchen garden.
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