Coriander is an annual herbaceous culture used by a person as a spice in the culinary arts, as well as for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. In the article, we consider the characteristic features of this seasoning, in which dishes it is added.

Coriander - what kind of seasoning is it: a characteristic of spice

The spice is a one-year herbaceous plant that belongs to the Umbrella family. The shoots of the culture are erect, smooth to the touch, have a branching in the upper part. Plant height - up to 70 cm, leaves have a triangular shape. The green part of the seasoning is called cilantro. There are many dishes where it is added fresh or dried. In ripened form, the fruit of the crop looks like a brown ball with a diameter of 4 mm - from which spices are made. Seasoning has a pungent aroma with a nutty touch. The taste is spicy, with a sweet aftertaste.

Chemical composition and energy value

The energy value of the ground product is 298 kcal per 100 g.

Chemical composition:

• proteins - 12.3 g;
• fats - 17.7 g;
• carbohydrates - 13.1 g.

Minerals that make up the seasoning:

• zinc;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• sodium;
• copper;
• iron;
• potassium.

Important! Coriander fruits are best stored intact, and chopped immediately before use.

Vitamin Composition:

• retinol;
• riboflavin;
• calcium pantothenate;
• pyridoxine hydrochloride;
• vitamin C;
• tocopherol;
• niacin.

Beneficial features

Due to its rich vitamin and mineral composition, coriander, used in various dishes, will contribute to the overall development of muscle and mental activity of a person. The chemical niacin is able to lower blood cholesterol, and also dilates small vessels, improving microcirculation and increasing blood movement activity.The presence of vitamin E in the seasoning neutralizes the effects of the toxic effects of food additives used in food, and will also improve the skin condition, eliminating lethargy and peeling. Thanks to vitamin A, a person eating coriander-flavored dishes can protect the cornea from drying out and improve the quality of vision.

Did you know? Due to the high survival rates in unfit for growth conditions, coriander is considered one of the varieties of weed grass.

Magnesium, zinc and potassium are the most important trace elements that are necessary for the proper growth and development of any organism. Adding spices to everyday foods will help preserve the beauty of hair and nails, as well as help eliminate symptoms of a nervous breakdown, such as insomnia and apathy. Spice is rich in proteins, which are so necessary when playing sports to build muscle: just one whisper of spice per day, added with food, will contribute to proper physical development.

Where is coriander used?

Spice is used in various spheres of human activity:

• in culinary art;
• in cosmetics;
• in traditional medicine.

To which dishes seasoning is best suited, as well as about its use in the medicinal and cosmetic fields, read below.

In medicine

Spice is widely used in folk medicine. Especially popular is the tincture of spices, which are made with the aim of treating a nervous breakdown. The use of tincture is due to the high content in the spice of B vitamins and minerals of magnesium and potassium, which restore physical strength and affect metabolic processes in the body.

Important! Even a completely healthy person must observe the correct dosage when preparing dishes with coriander: no more than 3 g of spice per day — exceeding the dose may cause nausea and vomiting.

Preparation and use of tincture:

1. Ground coriander in an amount of 30 g pour 100 g of vodka.
2. Insist in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks.
3. Take 30 drops 3 times a day for 1 week with nervous exhaustion and depression.
4. For single use with a severe nervous breakdown, you can use 50 drops of infusion.

Spice is used to treat hemorrhoids and is added to herbal tea. The benefit of the spicy composition of tea is to relieve pain in a relapse of the disease. To prepare the product you will need:

• cassia leaves;
• yarrow grass;
• buckthorn bark;
• coriander fruits;
• liquorice root.

All ingredients are taken in equal parts - 50 g each, crushed into powder and mixed. To brew tea, you need to pour 30 g of a mixture of 200 ml of boiling water. Tea is insisted for an hour, after which it is passed through a sieve and consumed 10 ml at bedtime until the pain is eliminated in case of a disease.

Video: how to cook tincture on coriander

In cosmetology

Spice is very useful for hair in the form of rinsing with infusion, which is able to restore shine and cure dandruff.

Preparation and use of the product:

1. Mix the coriander fruits (30 g) and chopped nettle leaf (30 g) and pour 200 ml of boiling water.
2. Insist for 30 minutes, then strain.
3. Rinse hair with shampoo after washing.

Spice is indispensable for cosmetic procedures designed to reduce sweating on the soles of the feet and reduce unpleasant odors. Trays for the feet with the addition of spices will also relieve fatigue after a long working day.

Application and preparation of foot baths:

1. To 2 liters of warm water (+ 45 ° C) add 30 g of ground coriander.
2. Steam for 15–20 minutes 3 times a week.

In cooking

If coriander seeds are used in recipes in powdered form, then they are pre-fried, which helps to reveal the full range of taste and aroma of spices. When making dishes with garlic and other aromatic vegetables, the spice does not absorb their smell.

Ground coriander is part of the seasoning of hops-suneli, which is made according to this recipe:

1. Take spices basil, marjoram, coriander, dill for 30 g.
2. Grind all ingredients into powder and mix.
3. Add red pepper 2 g and saffron 0.5 g to the total mixture.

Add the prepared seasoning to the first and second courses to taste. It is also placed in sauces - satsebeli, tkemali, adjika. Dried coriander goes well with fennel, cardamom and in this composition is added to baking.

The whole fruit is used in the preparation of dishes from:

• legumes and vegetables;
• meat;
• fishes.

Spice goes well with pork. You can, for example, cook a pork shoulder with red wine and coriander.

For cooking, you will need the following ingredients:

• pork shoulder - 800 g;
• sweet wine - 500 ml;
• ground coriander - 30 g;
• cinnamon - 5 g;
• ground red pepper - 5 g;
• salt - 10 g;
• sunflower oil - 30 g;
• onions - 200 g.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cut the pork into small pieces about 2 × 2 cm and put everything in a glass container.
2. Add all the spices to the meat, salt and pour the wine. Leave the pork in the marinade for 60 minutes.
3. Dry the pickled meat with a paper towel and fry in sunflower oil until golden brown on all sides.
4. Fry the fried meat in a heat-resistant dish and place in the oven for 40 minutes at a temperature of + 180 ° C.
5. After 40 minutes, add the remaining marinade and finely chopped onions to the meat. Cook meat in the oven for 45 minutes.
6. Serve meat with rice or potatoes.

Video: cooking pork shoulder with wine and coriander

Harm and contraindications

• The use of spices is contraindicated in such situations:
• during the period of bearing a child and breastfeeding;
• with an ulcer, acute pancreatitis;
• with a decrease in pressure;
• the presence of renal failure.

Coriander is a useful spice that is used in alternative medicine. The taste and smell of spices stimulates appetite and promotes better digestion, so it is indispensable in cooking.