coriander

[Ard]

What is Coriander root and where can it be purchased?

[r4zorb4ck]

Corriander is a mild spice used mainly used on spicey foods. I can be purchased from most supermarkets in the spices section. obviously.

[nickmo]

Coriander root is the root of the coriander plant, not a seperate herb. Most often used in Thai and far eastern cookery, the leaf common elsewhere.

Buy the plants whole and rinse the roots before use. The flavour is as good as in the leaf. Leaves are best torn rather than cut, as the oils present in the leaves that create the flavours are released in higher proportion this way (If you really want to know, the oil is called linalool or coriandrol)

Coriander seed is best roasted before crushing prior to use to improve the flavour.

Pub quiz facts! Coriander is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus and Numbers - and introduced to Britain by the Romans.

[ursula62]

Nickmo is right.

You can only buy coriander root if you buy bunches of coriander that have the roots on. Usually you get these from ethnic grocers - supermarkets sell you the leaves in nice plastic boxes.

The coriander spice r4zorb4ck mentions is ground seeds, not roots.