Fresh coriander (cilantro)

cilantro / coriander leaves; ผักชี phakchi

Flavor and role

The leaves and stems of coriander, with a fresh, distinctive aroma; some people find it tastes like soap. It is sensitive to heat, so add it at the end; stems and roots go into broths and pastes.

Typical dishes and uses

Guacamole, salsa, ceviche, pho, pad thai, Thai curries, biryani, tagine. In this book: tacos, ceviche, pho bo, biryani, tagine and pozole.

Substitutes

If you dislike it or have none, use the same amount of flat-leaf parsley + a little lime zest. In Southeast Asian dishes, culantro or Vietnamese coriander (rau ram) are also used.

Storage

Wrapped in a damp kitchen towel in a zip bag in the fridge, it keeps 5-7 days. With roots, stand it in a glass of water covered with a plastic bag in the fridge for over 1 week. Chopped and frozen in oil, 3 months.

Main countries

Mexico · Thailand · Vietnam

Used in this book

Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)Chicken Tagine with Lemon and OlivesTacos with GuacamoleCevicheWhite Chicken ChiliTaiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵)Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork Bánh Mì)Birria Tacos with ConsoméBún Chả (Hanoi Grilled Pork with Rice Noodles)Bunny Chow (Durban Chicken Curry in a Loaf)Carne Asada BurritoCampfire Skillet NachosChana MasalaChicken KarahiChicken Machboos (Emirati Spiced Chicken and Rice)Chicken Tikka MasalaChilaquiles RojosChili crabDal Tadka (Tempered Yellow Lentils)FalafelGarlic NaanGhormeh SabziClassic GuacamoleHainanese chicken riceHariraKhao SoiLarb Gai (Thai Minced Chicken Salad)Lomo Saltado (Peruvian Beef and Fries Stir-Fry)Masala DosaMohinga (Burmese Fish Noodle Soup)Nepali Chicken Momo with Tomato AcharMoqueca baianaSeven-Vegetable CouscousNyama Choma (Kenyan Grilled Meat with Kachumbari)Pav BhajiCheese QuesadillasAloo SamosaTom Kha GaiTom Yum Goong (Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup)Thai Red Curry Coconut AlbóndigasReina Pepiada ArepasMolten Cheese Arepa Bites with GuasacacaBandeja Paisa Burrito with Hogao Salsa (Colombian × Mexican)Crackling Roast Pork Bánh Mì (Bánh Mì Heo Quay)Bulgogi Kimchi Bánh MìBánh Mì Rice BowlCrispy Bánh Xèo Shrimp Salad BowlBone Broth Red-Braised Beef Noodle SoupRed-Braised Beef Rice BowlBibimbap Burritos with Gochujang-Lime MayoShort Rib and Shank Quesabirria TacosBirria Ramen with Soy-Marinated EggBirria Grilled Cheese with Consomé DipBobotie Puff Hand PiesBossam TacosPico de Gallo and Avocado BruschettaBún Chả Burger with Pickled Carrot and Sriracha MayoDurban Lamb Bunny with Fresh-Ground MasalaCheesy Keema Mini Bunny RollsCrispy Rice Burrito BowlButter Chicken RigatoniButter Chicken Cheese ToastChorizo and Crispy Potato Breakfast Burrito with Charred JalapeñoCarne Asada Nachos with Fire-Charred SalsaChorizo Chili Walking NachosClassic Ceviche with Leche de TigreShrimp Ceviche Tostadas with Avocado CremaPindi CholeChana Masala ShakshukaChana Masala Cheese ToastieChar Siu Tacos with Charred Pineapple SalsaChicken Adobo Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Lime CremaHyderabadi Chicken Dum BiryaniChicken Biryani BurritoBiryani Chicken Rice BowlDesi Ghee Chicken Karahi with Charcoal SmokeChicken Karahi TacosKarahi Chicken Cheese Naan MeltRoyal Chicken Machboos with Saffron Rice, Daqoos and Crispy OnionsCrispy Machboos Popcorn Chicken with Black-Lime YogurtChicken Nanban Tacos with Jalapeño-Lime TartareCharcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka MasalaChicken Tikka Masala QuesadillasChicken Tikka Masala Cheesy Baked RiceGuajillo-Ancho Chicken Chilaquiles with Crispy Fried EggChilaquiles Breakfast Torta with Salsa VerdeRestaurant-style chili crab with fried mantouChili crab spaghettiChili crab cheese toastCoconut Lemongrass Clam ChowderCơm Tấm Tacos with Lemongrass Pork and Scallion OilMasala Cornbread with Green Chilli, Cumin and Coriander (American x Punjabi)Hidalgo-Style Chicken Tinga Paste (Mexican Cornish Pasty)Crêpe JianbingKhao Soi-Style Coconut Curry Dak-kalguksuDakgalbi Cheese QuesadillasDhaba-Style Double Tadka Dal with Coal SmokeSizzling Tadka Lentil HummusShiitake, Silken Tofu and Chicken Egg Flower SoupTom Yum Egg Drop Soup (Thai x Chinese)Egusi Chicken Korma (Nigerian x North Indian)Husk-Grilled Elote with Chipotle Butter and Roasted Garlic CremaElote Cheese QuesadillaThree-Chile Enchiladas GratinadasButter Chicken EnchiladasChicken Enchilada Rice BowlFava and Chickpea Falafel with Parsley Tarator and Sumac OnionsFalafel Banh Mi with Quick Pickles and Sriracha Tahini MayoMexican-style fattoush with tortilla crisps and avocadoChipotle Feijoada ChiliAmok Moules Marinière with BaguetteBaked Amok Fish Toasts with Lime MayoThai Red Curry Coconut FiskesuppeFul Medames Huevos RancherosCrispy Smashed Potato Gado-Gado PlatterThai Lemongrass GambasCold-Fermented Roasted Garlic NaanGarlic Naan Pull-Apart BreadMexican-Style Jalapeño-Lime GazpachoOven-Braised Lamb Shank Ghormeh SabziGhormeh Sabzi Chicken Pot PieSabzi Crispy Rice BowlGreen Curry with Hand-Pounded PasteFire-Charred Guacamole with Homemade TotoposGuac Smash Toast with Jammy Egg and Charred CornGyros al Pastor Tacos with Charred Pineapple and Lime TzatzikiSlow-poached Hainanese chicken riceChicken rice risotto with ginger-scallion gremolataHainanese chicken sandoSaffron Lamb Harira with Egg RibbonsChicken Harira Tortilla SoupHarira Chickpea Toast with Lemon YogurtSichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with ShrimpIndian Tadka Hummus with Curry-Leaf GheeTiffin-House Idli with Fresh-Roasted SambarPodi Idli Fries with Coconut Yogurt DipGreen Chile Lamb and Potato Stew (Irish × New Mexican)Mala Japchae (Sichuan-Spiced Glass Noodles)Jeyuk Tacos with Lime SlawMasala Kartoffelpuffer with Mint Raita (German x Indian)Chorizo-Jalapeño Khachapuri (Georgian x Mexican)Chiang Mai Khao Soi with Hand-Made PasteKhichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee TadkaKung Pao Chicken Tacos with Lime SlawLaksa Butter Fried RiceHand-Chopped Larb Gai with Lemongrass Khao Khua and Crispy Chicken SkinLarb Gai Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Sriracha CreamCrispy Larb Gai Rice Paper Dumplings with Lime-Chilli DipPisco-Flambéed Tenderloin Lomo Saltado with Double-Fried PotatoesLomo Saltado Burrito with Ají Amarillo CremaLomo Saltado Loaded Fries with Huancaína SauceLu Rou Tacos with Quick Cucumber PicklesChorizo and Jalapeño Queso MacMysore Masala DosaCrispy Dosa Chaat BowlMassaman Chicken Loaded FriesMenemen Breakfast TacosThai Red Curry Coconut Lentil SoupMisir Wat Lentil Toast with Jammy EggMofongo Relleno with Shrimp CriolloMohinga with Fish-Bone Broth, Toasted Rice and Crispy ShallotsMohinga Fried Rice with Toasted Chickpea CrunchJuicy Pork Jhol MomoTandoori Chicken Momo with Mint YoghurtMomo Smash Tacos with Achar MayoFish and prawn moqueca with pirãoThai red curry moqueca with lemongrassShrimp moqueca rice bowl with dendê farofaLamb Seven-Vegetable Couscous with TfayaDry-Brined Goat Nyama Choma with Charred Pili-Pili and Sukuma WikiNyama Choma Gua Bao with Kachumbari Slaw and Pili-Pili Mayo (Kenyan x Taiwanese)Crispy Ugali Fries with Nyama Choma BitesRed-Braised Osso Buco with Ginger-Scallion GremolataTom Yum Seafood PaellaPalak Paneer Green ShakshukaPalak Paneer Cheese Melt ToastKeema Pastel de Choclo (Indian-Spiced Beef under a Sweet Corn Crust)Keema Pastitsio with Garam Masala BéchamelMumbai Tawa Butter Pav BhajiPav Bhaji Cheese QuesadillasPav Bhaji Cheesy Pull-Apart BunsSichuan Chili-Oil PelmeniPeri-Peri Chicken TacosPhilly Cheesesteak Quesadillas with Chipotle CremaPhở Đặc Biệt with 4-Hour Oxtail BrothPhở French Dip SandwichPhở-Spiced Beef Fried RicePozole Quesatacos with Red Consommé DipGochujang Pulled Pork Tacos with Kimchi SlawHandmade Corn Tortilla Mushroom Quesadillas with Charred SalsaTom Yum Shoyu Ramen with PrawnsRatatouille ShakshukaRendang beef tacosRogan Josh Birria-Style TacosRogan Josh Keema Loaded FriesChino-Cubano Ropa Vieja Lo MeinRopa Vieja Loaded TostonesMasala Rösti with Mint-Yoghurt ChutneySabich with Haminados Eggs and ZhugGochujang Pork Belly Tacos with Kimchi SalsaTom Kha Coconut SamgyetangHalwai-Style Punjabi Samosas with Two ChutneysSamosa ToastieChicken Satay Tacos with Acar PicklesSatay Chicken Rice Bowl with Crispy ShallotsScallion Pancake QuesadillaTom Yum Shabu-ShabuCharred Pepper and Merguez Shakshuka, Oven-BakedChicken Shawarma TacosKeema Shepherd's Pie with Bombay MashSom Tam Chicken TacosSaag Aloo Stamppot with Tadka and PaneerTom Yum Sundubu JjigaeSweet and Sour Pork Tacos with Pineapple SalsaMexican Street-Corn TabboulehTacos al PastorBulgogi Tacos with Kimchi SlawLamb Tagine with Prunes and AlmondsLemon Olive Tagine Hand PiesShrimp Tempura Tacos with Lime Sriracha MayoThit Kho Ramen (Caramel Pork Belly and Jammy Eggs)Caramel Pork and Egg Mayo ToastTom Kha Gai with Quick Bone Stock and Charred AromaticsTom Kha Creamy Chicken Rice BowlCreamy Tom Yum Goong Nam Khon with Shrimp-Head StockCrispy Tom Yum Fried Rice with Jammy EggTwice-Cooked Pork Tacos with Pickled OnionCharred Poblano White Chicken Chili with Seared ThighsThai Coconut Lemongrass White Chicken ChiliWhite Chicken Chili Baked Taquitos with Lime CremaYakitori Tacos with Lime Slaw and Shichimi Mayo

Updated 2026-10-10