Cilantro: Love it or hate it?

[Blue in a Red State]

Poll question: Cilantro: Love it or hate it?

I've found there's not much middle ground with this herb. I like coriander (the seed), but find the fresh herb rather vile. And don't get me started on Arugula---it smells and tastes reminiscent of dirty feet. So, how do YOU feel about cilantro?

[Dookus]

1. no easy answer

I like it in small doses, but not as a major ingredient. Small amounts taste OK to me, but large amounts taste like soap.

[CubsFan1982]

2. My mom uses it in her homemade salsa.

It's dee-licious! :D

[babylonsister]

3. Ole'! It 'makes' Mex or Tex-Mex grub! nt

[KitchenWitch]

11. It is also used in SE asian cooking

Thai food in particular. That being said, I like Thai basil more than I like cilantro. I can only handle cilantro in minute amounts. Unfortunately, the restaurants around here that use cilantro must think people want it caked on heavy or something. This is an herb where truly a little goes a long way.

[6000eliot]

4. Evil weed cultivated by Satan in Hell!!!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Quixote1818]

5. It absolutely ruins Salsa. Yuck! I can take it in very small amounts.

Very few places in New Mexico use it but when I go back east, it seems to be more popular in restaurants who don't know what good Mexican food is.

[leftofthedial]

7. I'm a NM native

I can't stand what all these norten~o gringos do to Mexican food.

I like cilantro though, but I can't eat it due to an acute allergic reaction.

[leftofthedial]

6. love it, but alas!

allergic and can't eat it. If I do, about 45 minutes later I'm asking if anyone knows the number for 911

[sendero]

24. My wife ..

.... is also allergic to it, and to a lesser extent to coriander also.

I love the stuff, but like any herb or spice - the correct amount is very important :)

[leftofthedial]

33. often in salsa, gringos and Californians throw huge amounts of cilantro in

and it overwhelms everything else.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Long before I knew it existed, I hated it!

I could taste something *funny* in various sauces in typically Mexican restaurants. It just tasted off to me. Then I found out! The plant is attractive, but NOT THE TASTE! So there's more for the rest of you who love it...You're welcome to it, too...

[prole_for_peace]

14. Me too.

I knew there was something in the salsa that I did not like. One day I bit on this green leafy thing in the salsa and that was the taste I hated. I asked and found out what it was. I was at a restaurant the other day and the enchiladas verde was made with a cilantro sauce instead of tomatillos. I DID NOT order it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Why don't you do a search for the last thread on this subject?

It was only posted a few days ago.

[KitchenWitch]

10. Nice copycat

I had the same poll a couple of days ago! :D :bounce:

[Blue in a Red State]

12. Great minds...

Must think alike! That's so weird, 'cos I never even saw your poll! This was totally inspired by a trip to the nursery yesterday to pick up herb plants! Scout's Honor!

[redqueen]

13. I'm indifferent to it.

I like the taste, but don't love it. I don't use it in homemade salsas... but I would if someone requested it.

[Withywindle]

15. Love it!

Use it in almost everything!


Now if you want something DISGUSTING - fennel! Ick. Anything remotely licorice-like is just fucking vile.

[Left Is Write]

17. Oh, I agree! Hate fennel.

I don't like Ouzo or Jagermeister either.

[KitchenWitch]

38. Had one bad Jagermeister night

Ruined me forever!

[Left Is Write]

16. Not a really big fan of cilantro.

[movie_girl99]

18. cant get past the soapy flavor n/t

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

19. In Mexican food with moderation, in SE Asian food - POUR IT ON!

[wideopen]

20. cilantro rules!

One of my favorite herbs. I buy it everytime I go to the grocery.(it goes bad really fast)Mandatory ingredient in guacamole, great w/anything mexican and I like loads of it in salsa.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. Have you tried growing it?

It's not difficult; you can even grow it in a pot in a sunny place on a balcony or deck if you don't have a yard.

[wideopen]

34. not yet

I will be trying to grow it as well as several other herbs this year. I understand it is very hardy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. Oh, forgive me, wideopen!

I forgot to welcome you to DU! Have fun, this place is addictive...

:hi:

[Shredr]

21. I won't even eat something cooked NEAR cilantro.

That soapy aftertaste drives me crazy. But I know so many people love it. They call it "fresh."
I've tried to force myself to like it, because it's in EVERYTHING: Indian, Mexican, Thai, etc. But I can't.

[arkie dem]

26. Eating Cilantro is like

sucking on a mildewed dish cloth.

[Sugar Smack]

28. like soap or cat-piss maybe-

my darling (bless his heart) brother RUINED our pizza with it. He finally agreed. And it gets in the nose.

[Nikia]

23. I like it in salsa

I don't think that it tastes soapy at all. Bad processed cheese tastes soapy and unfortunately I know why.

[donheld]

25. I voted indifferent

I use it when i'm at certain Mexican Restaurants, but will not go out of my way to find it.

[4_Legs_Good]

27. I can't stand it!

And I lourve Mexican food. I hate that this cr@p is always dumped in there ruining everything.

It's not even a spice used in Mexico anyway (IIRC).

Bleh!!!

david

[Nikia]

29. It isn't?

You mean that my Mexican friend lied to me about that. She said that they grew it in their court yard along with other herbs where they also kept chickens. She said that they used it for cooking at home in addition to selling it.

[4_Legs_Good]

30. It could be...

and maybe it is now, but as I understood it it's not traditionally used.

I may be wrong!

I still hate it, though.

:)

david

[Misunderestimator]

31. LOVE IT... That and sweet basil, my favorite fresh herbs.

[Arugula Latte]

32. Me too.

I was going to post that exactly.

God I love those two herbs.

DU can rest easy now that everyone knows my herb preferences.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

35. Me too! Basil and Cilantro are herbs of the gods!

:9

[yellowdogintexas]

36. discovered it when I came to Texas, love the stuff.

I put it in my homemade chili, salsa, pico de gallo, chile verde


also put it in my curried lentil dish

I find it has such a fresh taste that almoste explodes in your mouth.

[Beware the Beast Man]

39. Good in small doses.

Too much can completely wreck a dish.

[HeyManThatsCool]

40. When I have taco salad its more cilantro than lettuce

I LOVE Cilantro