Ingredient: Coriander seeds

Coriander or dried cilantro seeds are a spice that could be used in whole form or ground. It has a slightly spicy and lemony flavor that goes very well with cumin; that is why the two spices are usually used together in recipes.

People usually refer to cilantro leaves as coriander, but it is important to know that they have very different flavors and cannot substitute one another. Whole coriander seeds are usually used in pickling and brining, but for cooking, it is better to use ground coriander.

Coriander is an essential spice in Indian, Middle Eastern, and African cuisines. It is used in vegetable and meat dishes as well as soups and stews. It is best to buy whole coriander seeds from the store, and whenever you need the ground spice, you can roast some seeds at a low temperature until fragrant, then ground them using a spice grinder. If you’re preparing a dish that calls for coriander, but you don’t have any, you can substitute it with caraway seeds, cumin, fennel, or a mix of the three spices. Make sure to get some coriander seeds on your next trip to the grocery store.