cilantro
The fresh leaves and tender stems of the coriander plant, with a bright, lemony, pungent aroma.
Supermarkets often carry cilantro only in small pots or not at all; large, inexpensive bunches are reliably found in Turkish, Middle Eastern, Latin American or Asian grocery stores. The tender stems taste like the leaves and are used along with them in Georgian cooking.
Substitute:
There is no true substitute: flat-leaf parsley adds freshness and colour but not the distinctive aroma, and dried cilantro has little flavour left. If it is missing, use more of the other fresh herbs, knowing the dish will taste noticeably different.
Used in
AdjikaFiery Georgian chili paste with garlic, tomatoes and blue fenugreek90 minAjapsandaliGeorgian eggplant stew with peppers, tomatoes and a mountain of fresh herbs75 minBadrijani NigvzitFried eggplant rolls with spiced walnut paste and pomegranate90 minBazheGeorgian walnut sauce with garlic, blue fenugreek and coriander25 minChakapuliLamb braised with mountains of tarragon, sour plums and white wine2 hChakhokhbiliGeorgian chicken stew with tomatoes and a whole lot of fresh herbs75 minChanakhiLayered lamb and eggplant, slow-baked in clay pots3,5 hChashushuliSpicy Georgian beef and tomato stew, finished with a fistful of herbs2 hChashushuli with VealTender veal in a spiced tomato and onion sauce with khmeli-suneli100 minChikhirtmaGeorgian chicken soup thickened with egg yolk and vinegar, bright with cilantro110 minChirbuliEggs poached in tomato juices with walnuts, chilli and a pile of fresh herbs30 minGreen AjikaAn uncooked paste of green chilies, garlic and a mountain of fresh herbs40 minImeruli KhachapuriSoft yeasted bread with a molten cheese centre, buttered straight from the oven2 hKharchoGeorgian beef soup with walnuts, rice and tkemali2,5 hKuchmachiGeorgian braised offal with garlic, cilantro and pomegranate seeds2 hLobianiGeorgian yeast bread stuffed with spiced beans, Racha style4 hLobioGeorgian red bean stew with walnuts, coriander and a splash of vinegar90 minShkmeruliCrisp pan-fried chicken swimming in a creamy garlic sauce70 minSpinach PkhaliChilled walnut and spinach bites with pomegranate and Georgian spices45 minTkemaliGeorgian sour plum sauce with garlic, cilantro and pennyroyal mint75 min