okay, okay...I don't like cilantro...help me!

[KLynn]

Though I have tried over and over - I cannot seem to develop a taste for cilantro. Is there a substitute? Or can you simply leave it out? I know it depends on the recipe, but as a general rule I am wondering if I can just skip it. I love tex-mex, mexican, southwestern - everything...just not the cilantro!

(I know, I know...I see your mouths hanging open...)

[patsyk]

Actually, I feel the same way about cilantro. I have tried, but something about the taste does very little to thrill me.

I usually leave it out of recipes, but would like to know if there is a good substitute for it.

[Gail]

We won't help you. We'll simply stop speaking to you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Seriously, you're not alone out there. If you go back and read the old thread on aversions, quite a few people can't stomach the stuff. I know both my sister and father always thought cilantro revolting. (Obviously, I take after my mother.)

That being the case, I say, just leave it out. Unless it's the major ingredient, it won't be a big deal. If you feel the need for a touch of green, sprinkle on a tinge of Italian parsley or a bit of chives. But the flavor is unique (obviously a uniqueness you can do without) so I wouldn't really try to compensate for it.

[Curleytop]

I too dislike cilantro. I substitute it with parsley, which I love.

[BlueMoose]

I like cilantro, but I'm surprised that more people don't like it, because the taste is so strong and distinctive. I hate roasted garlic, though. I also can't stand fennel.

[This message has been edited by BlueMoose (edited 06-05-2001).]

[makedah]

I hate cilantro, too. I agree with my co-worker, who calls it "the devil weed." Here's what I do:

Leave it out
or
Use dried cilantro instead (much milder flavor)

I find, however, that if the cilantro is cooked, I can deal with it. Raw cilantro is vile stuff in my opinion.

[carolyn.1]

That goes for me too! I tried several times and I really want to like it because it is such an important ingredient in these dishes. But I have come to the realization "I DON"T LIKE IT".

It's funny my DH HATES oregano, I would cook with it anyway, because I liked it, I couldn't understand why he hated it so much--I thought he'll get over it. Well, now that I know I hate the taste of cilantro, I'm very sympathic
to my DH, so I don't put oregano in dishes that he eats also.
Carolyn--

[aggie94]

I have heard that cilantro tastes like dish soap to people who are allergic to it. I'm not sure I believe that -- I think cilantro tastes a little dish-soapy, but I'm OK with it! Isn't that what it's supposed to taste like? My friend, on the other hand, would concur with the opinion that cilantro is the "devil weed."

[sneezles]

I love cilantro and feel sorry for all you who don't care for it!

[kwormann]

ummmmmm

[SandyM]

Originally posted by kwormann:
ummmmmm

My sentiments exactly. Devil weed??? Nuh uh. Unless, of course, it is combined with my home made salsa with habanero and jalapeno peppers, in which the temperature might make you feel a little toasty.

I guess I'm in the minority. I love the stuff.

[This message has been edited by SandyM (edited 06-05-2001).]

[Gail]

Originally posted by sneezles:
I love cilantro and feel sorry for all you who don't care for it!

Look at the bright side, Sneezles. That's more left for us! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Laura B]

Originally posted by aggie94:
I have heard that cilantro tastes like dish soap to people who are allergic to it. I'm not sure I believe that -- I think cilantro tastes a little dish-soapy, but I'm OK with it! Isn't that what it's supposed to taste like? My friend, on the other hand, would concur with the opinion that cilantro is the "devil weed."

Dish soap is EXACTLY what cilantro tastes like to me. I just cannot stand it. I have to spit it out! Thankfully, my husband hates it too so we get along fine without it.

I guess I don't understand how people can like something that tastes like dish soap in the first place. Did you get your mouths washed out with soap a lot when you were little? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 06-05-2001).]

[sneezles]

Ah, Gail, always the optimist...Thanks!

Laura,
Obviously it doesn't taste like soap to those of us that like it. It tastes a lot like it smells! And had the soap my mother stuck in my mouth tasted like cilantro I would have enjoyed the punishment!

[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 06-05-2001).]

[SandyM]

Originally posted by Laura B:
I guess I don't understand how people can like something that tastes like dish soap in the first place. Did you get your mouths washed out with soap a lot when you were little? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

I have never had my mouth washed out with soap. I gag when that part comes up in "The Christmas Story". I can't imagine.......

I guess the difference is, I've never stuck a wad of the stuff in my mouth to see what it tastes like on its own. It always accents a dish subtlely.

[BlueMoose]

Does anyone else have to pinch a cilantro leaf and then smell it before buying it to make sure its fresh? I always laugh at the thought of myself standing in the grocery store smelling the cilantro. What do people think when they see me? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[sneezles]

BlueMoose,
I always smell! First I have to shake the bunch because of the water sprayed on it! I actually started doing this because I bought a bunch once and got home to find the guy had stocked the rpoduce wrong and I had bought flat-leaf instead!

[Laura B]

Originally posted by SandyM:
I guess the difference is, I've never stuck a wad of the stuff in my mouth to see what it tastes like on its own. It always accents a dish subtlely.


I must just be very sensitive to this stuff. I have never stuffed a wad of it in my mouth either. I made fresh salsa with some cilantro and could not eat it. I also had some in a salad. When I took a bite that had one cilantro leaf in it, I thought I was going to cry, the taste of soap was so strong. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif Oh, well.

I just looked up some info on cilantro. There was a good suggestion for those who do not like it but want to use it in recipes. It said to use an equal amount of parsley in place of the cilantro and sprinkle just a little bit of ground coriander into the dish to give it a hint of the cilantro flavor. This supposedly will not be enough to bring out any soap flavors for those who have that reaction to it.



[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 06-05-2001).]

[Gail]

First off, Sneezles, I don't think that was quite what you meant to say... tee hee!

Secondly, Blue Moose,
don't feel bad. No, I don't sniff at cilantro-- we seem to have an endless supply of the stuff locally-- but you will catch me sniffing around oranges and melons-- and I'm always quick to notice no one else is doing the same.

Thirdly, Laura B,
...about washing my mouth out with soap... many have wanted to, thusfar no one has DARED. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[kwormann]

use an equal amount of parsley in place of the cilantro .

Thats interesting because as much as I LOVE cilantro, I cant STAND parsley!

[sneezles]

Gail,
Huh? Sometimes I do blather on without thinking but which time are you referring to?

[Laura B]

Originally posted by sneezles:
Gail,
Huh? Sometimes I do blather on without thinking but which time are you referring to?

Sneezles, You said you always smell! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[sneezles]

Well, actually I do, sometimes good and sometimes not so good!

[lorilei]

Originally posted by Laura B:
just looked up some info on cilantro. There was a good suggestion for those who do not like it but want to use it in recipes. It said to use an equal amount of parsley in place of the cilantro and sprinkle just a little bit of ground coriander into the dish to give it a hint of the cilantro flavor. This supposedly will not be enough to bring out any soap flavors for those who have that reaction to it.

Oh, my. How I must laugh.

This is the exact technique I used to get over my cilantro aversion!

Since I really wanted to like the stuff (it's so integral to Mexican cooking), I started off putting celery on my dishes instead of cilantro. Little by little I would replace a bit of the parsley with a little cilantro. Eventually, I grew accustomed to the flavor and could replace ALL of the parsley with cilantro.

Call me obsessed... but it worked!

[BosunsWife]

I don't dislike it, but a little goes a long way....It adds flavor to homemade salsa, but other than that I try and substitute something else. I'll have to try the dried route and see if I like it any better.

One of my aversions to it is because I was coming down with the flu (unbeknownst to me) and ate a pita veggie sandwich with cilantro in it. Well, we all know what happens with the stomach flu (what goes in also comes out LOL), so I have a hard time eating anything with fresh cilantro anymore.

[crazycook]

Chuckling, reading these posts...thinking what fun it would be to sit around a table with all of you...we'd laugh and laugh, I'm sure! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

I love cilantro. I've never thought of it tasting like soap...that got me thinking though...Do any of you remember the purple tablet gum called Thrills? That tasted kind of soapy and I loved the stuff when I was younger. How many of you cilantro lovers liked it also? Also, the cilantro haters, did you also hate this gum? Just curious.

BlueMoose--my nose guides me through the produce aisle all the time. I will smell the fresh herbs, peaches(especially peaches--if they don't smell like peaches, forget it!), cantaloupe, pineapple and strawberries. I had a gentleman follow me around one day at the farmers' market. I thought he was going to tell me to quit, but he was curious as to why I was sniffing the fruit-so I filled him in. He asked if I would help him pick out his fruits and veggies and teach him how to find the best produce. Hmmm...wonder if it was just a pickup line that totally went over my head? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif Oh well. Lol!

[rockydog]

I like this stuff but only in fresh homemade salsa. Salsa without cilantro is like a day without sunshine.

[sapphirestar]

I don't like cilantro at all, either. It didn't help that the first time I tasted it in a dish, someone was talking about cilantro tasting/smelling like Bounce dryer sheets! I don't think I would have liked it anyway, but this suggestion sure doesn't help!

So, I can always tell when cilantro is in a dish by that dryer-sheet smell!

I'm another who also wishes I could like it, since it is in so many dishes. I'll try the parsley substitution instead!

[Lynn B]

Add us to the list of cilantro LOVERS! We get so happy when we find an especially (beautiful!) great big bunch of it! We tease DD that will be her wedding bouquet some day!!!
Lynn

[chefbec]

I love cilantro so much I usually add more than the recipe calls for. Even my kids eat it right off the stem. Indian food, Mexican food, Chinese food, etc. just is not the same without it.

As stated, the subsitute would be fresh parsley. Also as stated, more for the rest of us!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Tina_B]

I find myself seaching out recipes that call to cilanto. It is definitely my favourite herb. I planted some in my garden just yesterday. No more having to do the smell check at the grocery store, for the summer anyways.

[DSH]

Love it, love it, love it. Can't live without it! (I sniff and taste in the market too.)

[BlueMoose]

Lynn B...
LOL, I love the wedding bouquet idea!

I went to the store last night and the cilantro was pretty bad http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif . I'll have to try another store today.

[This message has been edited by BlueMoose (edited 06-06-2001).]

[This message has been edited by BlueMoose (edited 06-06-2001).]

[KLynn]

WOW!

Cilantro seems to be a definite "love-it-or-hate-it" herb...of all these posts, none seemed to fall in the "neutral" category! Thanks for the advice on using parsley (which is currently taking over my herb garden...I need some good ways to use it all...) or just leaving it out.

I had hesitated to try so many of the recipes that call for it - but now I will be diving in to those cilantro-filled recipes...with my parsley instead...

As always...you all are the best!

[cindyluwho]

It's interesting that so many people who don't like cilantro think it tastes like soap! I don't like cilantro at all, but I don't think it tastes like soap, just bad.

[BarbaraL]

I love cilantro; unfortunately DH and DD hate it! I love parsley too! I'd planted some in my garden; went out last night and some critter had eaten all of the leaves (and I'd sprayed them with diluted Murphy's oil soap to repel them). Oh, well. Guess I'll have to grow it in pots.

[JohnK]

If I'm not mistaken, cilantro aversion like many other taste aversions is genetic, so saying you take after your mother is appropro. It also explains why you either love it or hate it; it also goes to explaining why it is almost universally explained as hating it because "it tastes like soap".

[JohnK]

If I'm not mistaken, cilantro aversion like many other taste aversions is genetic, so saying you take after your mother is appropro. It also explains why you either love it or hate it; it also goes to explaining why it is almost universally explained as hating it because "it tastes like soap".

[Grace]

Wow, Barbara, you sprayed your "soap herb" with soap and the critters STILL ate it?!! Now that's funny!

Put me in the LOVE IT category!!! I also typically use more than the recipe calls for. Love it, love it, love it!

[lorilei]

Originally posted by JohnK:
If I'm not mistaken, cilantro aversion like many other taste aversions is genetic, so saying you take after your mother is appropro. It also explains why you either love it or hate it; it also goes to explaining why it is almost universally explained as hating it because "it tastes like soap".

So would you explain my miraculous recovery from "cilantro aversion" as a genetic mutation? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I love the stuff now and can't wait until my spring planting is mature enough to harvest!!

[Terrytx]

Another family of Love It here and we usually put more than called for too. I always have cilantro on hand, either in the garden or from the market. I think I have used some in every meal I have cooked this week.