Indian cuisine is sort of incomplete without a generous garnishing of chopped green coriander leaves on subzis, daals, salads and chaas.
As a young girl, I would be amazed to see my mother adding coriander to all dishes prepared by her. I would even tease her, “Why leave the milk and water alone?”
And she would say, “Coriander is very beneficial for health”.
Well, every natural ingredient we eat has a host of health benefits. So, I am not surprised that Coriander too has many.
Coriander or cilantro is a good source of dietary fiber, manganese, iron and magnesium. Its leaves are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K and protein. They also contain calcium, phosphorous, potassium, thiamin, niacin and carotene in small quantities.
- Controls blood pressure
- Prevents anemia
- Helps in digestion and relieves nausea
- Treats diarrhea
- Reduces menstrual cramps
- Boosts oral health
- Regulates cholesterol
- Controls diabetes
- Treats skin disorder – say bye-bye to eczema, acne and black heads
- Reduces wrinkles
Well, well, you would have never imagined the humble ‘dhaniya’ to have so many benefits.
Ways in which coriander can be used:
- Freshly chopped coriander leaves can be sprinkled on food.
- Guacamole, salsa and hung curd dips.
- Make chutney with it. My recipe of chutney –
100 gms chopped coriander leaves, 1/2 inch thick ginger, 2 tsp roasted cumin seed powder, 7-8 unsalted peanuts, a pinch of asofoetida, black salt, common salt, juice of 1/2 lemon. In the Winter when fresh garlic is available, I add chopped fresh garlic.
One more food in which coriander is used is panipuri ka paani. Interestingly, most people think panipuri is a junk food. Well, I must tell you it is not. Freshly made panipuri ka paani with coriander, mint, ginger, raw mango or tamarind is good for digestion, boiled chana or sprout is good source of protein for vegetarians, and boiled potato and puri provide you with fats. Also, anything eaten in moderation is not bad.
At the vegetable market, you will find two varieties of coriander leaves – one is with broad leaves and the other with small ones. I prefer using small leaves as it has a better aroma and more bite.
So, if you have not been using coriander in your cooking, it’s time you did! It will add such a nice springy green colour to your food!
I am adding this post to #BlogCrush
I am adding this post to #BlogCrush, spreading some #Bloglove. Just check the message on twitter.
Hey thanks so much. What is #BlogCrush.. Will check out your msg
It is a blog Hop…where you post links
Oh OK. Will check now. Thanks so much, Balaka!
This is one of my favourite herbs and so evocative of Indian food. Your chutnet recipe sounds really interesting, I will have to try that. I try to grow Coriander in my garden here in Ireland but it seems the slugs love it too. I’m glad to hear it has so many health benefits, now to fight off those slugs! Congratulations for having your post chosen by another blogger to be added to the #blogcrush linky, you are eligible for the ‘I’ve been Featured’ badge! Hope you join us there. 🙂
Hi…Coriander is one of my most favourite herbs, I don’t why I took it so long to write about it. 🙂 I haven’t tried growing it too though we have tropical climate here in Mumbai. Will try it now. I already have mint, curry leaves, lemon grass and holy basil in pots. Thank you so much! What do I need to do for ‘I’ve been Featured’ badge? Sorry if it’s a dumb question, I am not sure how this thing works. 🙂
Sounds like you have a great array of herbs growing, rosemary does well here as does parsley, thyme and mint but I buy so many of the more softer leaf herbs. Good luck with the coriander. Good question about the badge, if you pop over to my blog, you’ll find the code in the blog crush posts. 😊😊
Wow..I so want rosemary, parsley and thyme!! 🙂 Hopping on to your blog now! 🙂 Thank you.
Love to use corriander when I make a good curry and chilli corn can but you’ve just listed a few lovely ideas and the medicinal advantages of it – that I did not know – thanks for sharing #blogcrush
Thanks so much for appreciating the post!! 🙂
Coriander smell love it. And also home grown organic lemongrass.😊
Ha ha 🙂
Do check my link now. Is it fine?
Yes it works fine now…takes you to the right blog 🙂
Yippee! finally 😘
Oooof I love dhaniya and sprinkle it on everything and I mean everything. Hate milk so no chance of putting it there 😉
I am impressed by the benefits of this humble herb and looking at it with new found respect Anshu
Ha ha, in milk!! 🙂 Even I didn’t know till a few years ago that this humble herb was so beneficial, Shalini! But, now I use it very generously in my cooking!
Tiny leaves but mighty ones!
Liked the chutney recipe and will try it for sandwiches or for cutlets.
Thanks Anagha! Do let me know if you liked the chutney!
This is insightful, didn’t know that the thing used mostly for garnishing and chutynes was so healthy ! I love coriander and want it in almost everything I eat 😛
If you have the taste for coriander, then you can sprinkle on almost everything except water and milk, of course!! 😉