Fresh and dried herbs
Substitutes for cilantro
How to swap fresh and dried cilantro, and what to use when you have neither. Cilantro loses much of its flavor when dried, so dried is a backup for cooked dishes, not a garnish.
-
In place of fresh cilantro
Dried cilantro
- How much
- 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much)
- How
- Crumble it between your fingers and add it early, with the liquid or the onions, so it has time to soften and give up its flavor.
- What changes
- Dried cilantro has almost no flavor; skip it as a garnish and add more of the other seasonings.
-
In place of dried cilantro
Fresh cilantro
- How much
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh for each 1 tsp dried (three times as much)
- How
- Add most of it near the end of cooking and a little more just before serving.
- What changes
- Bright and citrusy; the real thing.
-
In place of fresh cilantro
Flat-leaf parsley + lime zest
- How much
- The same amount of parsley, plus a little lime zest
- What changes
- Fresh and green, without the soapy taste some people get from cilantro.
- Best in
- Salsa, guacamole, tacos, rice.
-
In place of fresh cilantro
Thai basil or mint
- How much
- Half as much
- What changes
- Sweeter and more perfumed.
- Best in
- Curries, noodle salads, pho.
Good to know
- A rough guide for leaves: 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs, 1 tsp dried, ½ tsp ground (for herbs sold ground).
Simmerbee recipes with cilantro (27)
- Air-Fryer Falafel Patties
- Blackened Fish Tacos with Lime Slaw
- Broiled Street-Style Corn with Cotija and Lime
- Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce
- Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas
- Classic Chunky Guacamole
- Creamy Chickpea Coconut Curry with Spinach
- Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas
- Crispy Oven-Baked Fish Tacos
- Crispy Pan-Fried Falafel with Tahini Sauce
- Cumin Lime Roasted Carrots
- Everyday Red Lentil Dal
- Five-Minute Blender Salsa
- Fluffy Cilantro Lime Rice
- Fresh Chunky Tomato Salsa
- Grilled Carne Asada for a Crowd
- Oven-Braised Crispy Pork Carnitas
- Pressure Cooker Butter Chicken
- Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
- Shrimp Pad Thai
- Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
- Slow-Cooker Chorizo Queso Dip
- Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Steamed Mussels in Coconut Curry Broth
- Vegan Black Bean and Rice Stuffed Peppers
- Vegan Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
- Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala
On those recipes, tap Swaps next to the ingredient for the short version.