Coriander

Category: Food

Type

Voluntary

Introduction and description

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia.

In cooking both the leaves and the seed can be used. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The fruit is a globular, dry schizocarp 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter.

Medicinal uses

Coriander, like many spices, contains antioxidants, which can delay or prevent the spoilage of food seasoned with this spice. A study found both the leaves and seed to contain antioxidants, but the leaves were found to have a stronger effect. Chemicals derived from coriander leaves were also found to have antibacterial activity against Salmonella choleraesuis.

There are also studies showing Coriander helps with “anxiety and insomnia, cholesterol problems, oedema, and indigestion”! Coriander has also been used as a traditional treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Of great interest, is that Coriander leaf was found to prevent deposition of lead in mice, due to a presumptive chelation of lead by substances in the plant. 

Nutrients

The table below shows some of the mineral and vitamin content of coriander seeds. The seeds also provide manganese. They have a lemony citrus flavour when crushed, due to terpenes linalool and pinene. It is described as warm, nutty, spicy, and orange-flavoured.
Source: US National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Release 26   Software v.1.3.1 Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion

 The nutritional profile of coriander seed is different from the fresh stems and leaves, the vitamin content being less than amounts being displayed in the chart below for the plant, with some being absent entirely. 

Method

All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking. Wikipedia states that “Coriander is common in South Asian, Southeast Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, Central Asian, Mediterranean, Latin American, Portuguese, Chinese, African, and Scandinavian cuisine”! In effect, it is used world-wide.

The leaves can be cooked or eaten raw in salads, and sprinkled on dishes before cooking. As heat diminishes their flavour, coriander leaves are usually added to the dish immediately before serving.  'The leaves spoil quickly when removed from the plant, and lose their aroma when dried or frozen'.

Chopped with avocados, lemon, salt and sugar with a little spring onion they make a tasty addition to grills and chillis. Added to chopped tomato, spring onion, lemon juice and sugar they can be used with fish.

In Indian and Central Asian recipes, coriander leaves are used in large amounts. Thai dishes in particular depend to a large extent on the addition of coriander leaves.

Coriander seed can be roasted and ground, or simply ground, in spice mixtures. Ground coriander seed loses flavour quickly in storage and is best ground fresh. If cooked with wholegrain rice, as a whole spice and chopped mint and butter added after cooking, it is delicious with lamb chops.

Coriander seed is a spice in garam masala and Indian curries, which often employ the ground fruits in generous amounts together with cumin. It acts as a thickener.

Coriander seed can also be used for pickling vegetables. Finally, coriander seeds are used in brewing certain styles of beer, particularly some Belgian wheat beers. The coriander seeds are used with orange peel to add a citrus character and indeed coriander and orange do make a very good addition to sweet dishes, especially those with chocolate in them.

How it works

see observations

Related observations

Healing observations

• Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils against bacterial and fungal species involved in food poisoning and/or food decay 023171
• Coriander and lead poisoning 006734
• Dr Duke's list of 20 plants to help with headaches 018056
• Dr Duke's list of plants containing acetylcholine 013007
• Dr Duke's list of Plants containing NICKEL 021500
• Dr Duke's list of Plants Containing QUERCETIN 021446
• Dr Duke's list of plants for Superactivity Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis 017744
• Dr Duke's list of plants having chemicals with vasodilatory activity 017836
• Dr Duke's list of plants with a large number of chemicals having antiviral activity 017909
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anti-aggregate activity 017520
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiacne Activity 018404
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiaflatoxin Activity 018393
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antialcoholic Activity 018406
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiasthmatic Activity 018412
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiasthmatic activity 018347
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiatherogenic and Antiatheroscleroticactivity 018349
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antibacterial activity 018352
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (forestomach) activity 018458
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (liver) activity 018461
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (lung) activity 018462
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (skin) activity 018466
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticolitic activity 018436
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidermatitic activity 018427
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidysenteric activity 018475
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidysentric activity 018372
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidysmenorrheic Activity 018474
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiedemic activity 018443
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiflu activity 019584
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antihelicobacter activity 018402
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antimyocarditic activity 018437
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antineuralgia activity 019580
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antipneumonic Activity 018416
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antistaphylococcic Activity 018276
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antistreptococcic Activity 018392
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Candidicide activity 018389
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Candidicide Activity 021073
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Myorelaxant Activity 019681
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Radioprotective activity 018062
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Superactivity Premenstrual Syndrome/PMS activity 019158
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with Trichomonicide activity 018065
• Dr Duke's list of Plants with [Natural] Nematicide activity 018292
• Dr Duke's Plants with Antiplatelet activity 017519
• Dr Duke's top 20 plants for constipation 017656
• Dr Duke's top 20 plants with laxative properties 017657
• Dr Dukes list of plants with high Antiestrogenic activity 017912
• Dr Dukes list of plants with high Estrogenic activity 017911
• Dr Duke’s list of Plants containing CAMPHOR [used for warts and verucas] 021312
• Effective treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes family viral infections with Chinese parsley 018887
• Rheumatoid arthritis and food 005581
• Spices herbs and bacteria 005424