Coriander is one of the most known herbs and is mostly used in a lot of Mexican and Latin American dishes. Interestingly, coriander can be used as a culinary spice and to prevent food poisoning. It is also used as a flavoring agent in medicines and tobacco.
Coriander seems to have been used in ancient times as coriander seeds have been found in ruins dating back to 5000 B.C.Many times the question comes up on whether coriander is a herb or spice and today you get your answer.
Herbs are the fresh, leafy part of a plant and vary greatly in flavor and can be sweet, spicy, or savory. Spices come from the seeds, root, or bark of the plant. They are considered any edible part of the plant, besides the leaf, that can be used for seasoning.
Coriander seeds are usually toasted and ground before using; otherwise, they can have a tough texture to chew. Ground coriander is used as a spice in dishes like curry and in baked goods. This leads to an aroma that is best described as warm, spicy, and nutty, with a hint of citrus.
This spice is commonly paired with cumin and cinnamon because they share similar flavor traits. The best substitute for coriander when you do not have it are cumin,garam masala, or curry powder.
Health Benefits of Coriander Leaves that you didn’t know about
You may have loved coriander because of the taste. Some love it as a vegetable that can be added to any dish. That’s not all you get from it though. Some major reasons why you should start eating coriander are:
- It helps to lower blood sugar and blood pressure.
- It is an abundant source of antioxidants which make it good in immunity-boosting, memory boosting and as an anti-inflammation.
- Coriander has been found to reduce bloating and in some cases boosts appetite.
- It helps improve digestion and gut health.
- Coriander can help lower blood sugar levels.
- For beauty lovers, eating more coriander can give you a healthy and clear skin.
- Prevents food poisoning.
