Coriander - Cilantro - a Background

The leaves and seeds of the herb coriander (coriandrum sativum), known as cilantro in Spanish, is a traditional flavouring found in numerous Middle Eastern and South-East Asian dishes. Its popularity has spread until it is now a favourite throughout the world. Coriander plays a central role in many gastronomic masterpieces and is especially popular in curries and chutneys, yet since the time of the Ancient Pharaohs, the herb has also been in use for its healing properties - (ref 8).

For more than 4,000 years coriander has been deliberately cultivated for culinary and medical purposes. It is a strong- smelling herb that was first introduced to Britain by the Romans who made use of its properties in a potent herbal concoction that was rubbed into various meats as a preservative. Coriander has since been shown to contain a blend of antioxidants which can slow down or prevent food from going rotten - (ref 3).

Coriander’s medicinal properties were well documented by the ancient Chinese who alleged, along with other properties, that it helped people live to a grand old age. - in fact, because of their interest in coriander, parts of the world still call it ‘Chinese Parsley’.

The odour of coriander leaves is quite unique but not to everyone’s liking. In fact, because the early Greeks thought the smell was objectionable, the herb was dubbed ‘Korindo’ from the word ‘koris’, meaning bugs. However, the smell of the seeds is quite different to the leaves, and can even be used in pot-pourri.

Growing Coriander - Cilantro

Coriander has wispy foliage and a plethora of tiny pinkish-white flowers and for this reason is best planted in a drift. Coriander likes full sun, but when it is grown outdoors, the fine foliage means that it is best planted in abundance. It can be grown indoors, but many people find the smell too much for indoor use.

• Lifespan of coriander - Hardy annual
• Height of coriander - 60 cm
• Site for coriander - Full sun, protect from strong winds
• Soil for coriander - Prefers a rich, light, well-drained soil
• Growing of coriander - Plant out or sow in late spring. Water regularly. Flowers June to July. Self-sows freely.
• Harvesting of coriander - Pick young leaves at any time. When seeds turn brown collect them by shaking them from the flower head.
• Preservation of coriander - The seeds can be dried and stored whole, or infused to make a delicious coriander vinegar.

Coriander Seeds.

The seeds of coriander are small, round and light-brown. They can be collected by shaking the seed head after they gain full colour. Strong-scented, the seeds of coriander are also ground and used in powder form. The flavour actually matures with storage.

Coriander Leaves.

The mature, lower leaves of coriander look like parsley but have a much stronger scent. The upper leaves are wispy and have the same strong scent.

Coriander Stem

The fine, round stems of coriander can become straggly and branching. These can be chopped and used in soups and stews.

Using Coriander - Cilantro

Culinary Use of Coriander

• Coriander seeds and seed powder taste equally delicious with either meat or sweet puddings.
• Coriander leaves make a delightful addition to salads and can be added to curry or stews.
• Chopped coriander leaves are often used as garnish on culinary dishes.
• Temperature reduces the flavour of coriander leaves, so they are quite often used raw or added to the dish directly before serving.

Household Use of Coriander

• Use coriander seeds in spicy, warm-scented pot pourri

Medicinal Use of Coriander

• Gripe water - Coriander, like the distant cousins, caraway, dill and fennel, has therapeutic properties associated with the digestive system. At times, coriander has been used instead of dill to make gripe water - (ref 1)
• Liqueurs - Coriander is used in the preparation of the liqueurs Chartreuse and Benedictine, and was added in the early days because of its digestive properties - (ref 9).
• Anorexia - Coriander acts as a stimulant for the appetite and because of this is sometimes used in the treatment of anorexia nervosa - (ref 2)
• Indigestion - Coriander Infusion - To make an infusion of coriander pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoon of bruised coriander seeds and leave to infuse for five minutes. Drink before meals in order to relieve indigestion and flatulence.
• Antibacterial - Coriander leaves have been shown to have antibacterial properties and been used against salmonella - (ref 3)
• Insomnia - Coriander is used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Take a cup of coriander infusion an hour before bed.
• Diuretic - In India, coriander seeds are used in herbal medicines as a diuretic.
• Diabetes - Coriander can be useful in the control of diabetes. A study on mice has shown that that extracts of coriander produced insulin-like activity - (ref 4)
• Cholesterol - Including Coriander seeds in your cooking has been shown to reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides - (ref 5)
• Acne - Coriander extract in a lotion along with turmeric, has been successfully used as a treatment for acne - (ref 6)
• Period pain - Coriander infusion is useful for relieving period pain and was once employed to help during childbirth.
• Colic - A breastfeeding mother can drink coriander infusion to help relieve colic in the baby, since the anti-spasmodic properties absorb easily into breast milk - (ref 7)

So the next time you are wondering what to pep your dish up with, reach for coriander the wonder herb…. You won’t go far wrong.

Easy Carrot and Coriander Soup

If you're looking for an introduction to this wonderful herb, try my favourite recipe for carrot and coriander soup. It is easy to make but is absoslutely delicious. I'm no cook, so if I can do it, so can you.

Ingredients

• 1kg (2lbs) carrots
• 1 onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 litre (1.75 pints) of vegetable stock
• A little vegetable oil
• 1g (2lbs) chopped coriander leaves

Method

1. Heat oil in pan.
2. Chop the onion and garlic and fry in oil until soft but not brown.
3. Slice the carrots and add to onions and garlic along with the stock.
4. Bring to the boil, then reduce and simmer until the carrots are tender.
5. Blend the carrot, onion, garlic, and stock mixture with the chopped coriander leaves until it is smooth.

Eat and enjoy this easy carrot and coriander soup.

References

1. (http://hubpages.com/hub/Condiments-as-Herbal-Medicines)
2. (http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/coriander.html)
3. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15161192)
4. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19003941)
5. (http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/blog/coriander-and-its-many-benefits/)
6. (http://www.acne-treatmentblog.com/acne-treatment/dealing-with-dry-facial-skin.html)
7. (http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/breast/naturalremedies.htm)
8. (http://www.suite101.com/content/coriander-for-healing-a117295)
9. (http://www.ciao.co.uk/sr/q-benedictine+liqueur)