28 Delicious And Refreshing Cilantro Recipes

The fresh and citrusy taste of cilantro makes it an excellent addition to a whole variety of different recipes, however many people will stick with what they know and just use cilantro the same as any regular lettuce placing it inside of a sandwich or on top of the patty of a burger.

This is missing out on all the incredibly creative and unique ways you can make full use of the extremely sweet taste of cilantro such as being used as a herby seasoning, mixed in with a salad or even as part of a fruity and sauce.

With so many recipes to choose from, try out some of these delicious dishes that use cilantro to find your new favorite way to use this delightfully flavorful herb right now.

1. Pear-Cilantro Margarita

Starting with a delicious margarita which is easy to make but so refreshing in the summertime and also a cozy appetizer in the winter, the incredible blend of tequila, pear nectar, syrup and a dash of lime are all complimented so nicely by the tangy cilantro which adds a good amount of citrusy flavor to this refreshing beverage.

2. Soba Noodles With Grilled Shrimp And Cilantro

This noodle dish is just bursting with elegant flavors thanks to the genius mixture of garlic and lime with that added seafood texture and taste from the grilled shrimp.

The lime wedges and cilantro help add a good amount of soury flavor to this dish that also helps in digesting the food.

3. Roast Chicken With Cilantro-Mint Chutney

Perfect for those roast chicken lovers, the chicken in this recipe benefits enormously from the chutney dip made out of cilantro and mint that gives it a thick and rich texture that is bursting with flavor the moment you take a bite.

4. Cilantro Lime Rice

By simply adding some cilantro, lime juice and a hint of lime zest to a bowl of rice, you can elevate it’s flavor to an entirely new level thanks to the added hint of sour that goes great either eaten on its own as a filling meal, or as a side dish to some meat or some seafood such as shrimp, being a delicious appetizer..

5. Cilantro Lime Dressing

One of the most delicious ways you can use cilantro is making it into a thick and creamy sauce, and this cilantro lime dressing does just that.

Feel free to drizzle this fresh and savory dressing on some salad, over some meat or even as a dip for some small bites or some fries.

6. Cilantro Pea Dip

Incredibly nutritious and made of nothing but healthy greens, try mixing together some cilantro, green peas and salsa verde to create this delicious dipping sauce that is just begging to be used with some tortilla chips or nachos which can be prepared in essentially no time at all.

7. Classic Falafel

The green cilantro interior of these delicious miniature falafel bites gives them an almost creamy and extremely unique flavor that makes them a joy to bite into when stuffed into some flatbread and dashed with some cucumber sauce.

You can even place the falafels into a sandwich which for many people is the only proper way to eat these delightful appetizers.

8. Carrot Chili And Cilantro Soup

A deliciously creamy soup that is fused with a little bit of garlic, large peeled carrots and of course some chopped up fresh cilantro, this is an extremely nutritious soup that is a great dish when you want to warm up and enjoy a deliciously tasteful soup that can be eaten later in the day, as an afternoon snack or even for breakfast.

9. Halibut Soft Tacos

These easy to make tacos taste incredibly nutritious when paired with some mango salsa and grilled halibut with the fresh cilantro scattered around the tortilla to add even more nutritional value to this already fruity dish, a real crowd pleaser great for serving multiple people at once.

10. Quick Cilantro Chicken

If you are a fan of chicken and are looking to add just a little bit of a tangy and herby flavor to the mix from the cilantro, this recipe can be whipped up in just a few minutes and is a delightful spin on the regular chicken herb recipes.

With some caramelized onions on the side that are almost elegant in how they taste, this is definitely a recipe the meat lovers will not want to ignore.

11. Shrimp Tostadas With Lime-Cilantro Sauce

The lime-cilantro sauce used in this recipe is so flavorful, you may just find yourself layering it on top of a few of your other favorite meals since it is just so delightfully creamy and gives off an incredibly fresh and refreshing flavor that goes great over some shrimp and veggies.

Perfect as an after-meal appetizer or even as a main meal itself if you choose to make it a bit bigger and thicker.

12. Peppy Peach Salsa

A golden bowl of fruity peach salsa is already delicious on its own, but by adding a few teaspoons of minced fresh cilantro you can elevate the smooth and creamy texture of the peaches to another level.

A perfect choice as both a herb filled solo treat but also as a popular appetizer that all friends and family members are sure to enjoy.

13. Rib-Eye Steak With Chimichurri

If you are one of the many people out there who would call themselves a bit of a ‘steak connoisseur’ or if you know someone who is, you need to try this steak that mixes in cilantro and vinegar to add one of the most phenomenal additions to a juicy steak possible.

Rich in flavor and a perfect addition to a meaty steak that can be prepared in no time, you can’t go wrong adding some mushy cilantro and vinegar to this fan favorite food.

14. Cilantro Salad With Olives, Avocado And Limes

The perfect first course that is guaranteed to keep you feeling light and refreshed for the main meal ahead, the mixture of sweet and sour ingredients in this recipe strikes the perfect balance of flavors without one overpowering the others.

Feel free to add in some grilled chicken or some of your favorite seafood to add a little more texture, or simply leave this salad as it is for a bowl full of nutritional benefits.

15. Baked Eggs With Coconut Milk And Cilantro

Part of the beauty of this recipe is that due to the colorful mixture of eggs, fruit, creamy coconut milk and cilantro, it can be prepared and eaten any time of the day whether as a tasty and nutritious breakfast snack, an afternoon treat or even an appetizer for the evening, not to mention it’s creamy and herby texture is just too good not to try.

16. Fried Whole Fish With Tomatillo Sauce

At first glance this meal can look like a premium dish that only the top chefs could even hope to prepare, however in reality, it can be made at home with just 5 ingredients including a bright salsa that is made from the cilantro stems that adds another layer of richness to the delicious grilled fish of your choice.

17. Fragrant Green Chicken Curry

The Thai-style curry used in this recipe is made from a combination of curry paste, coconut milk and some fresh cilantro to make one of the smoothest and creamiest curries you have ever tasted that goes so well over some soft and succulent chicken that you can be sure guests will be copying this recipe as soon as they try it.

18. Ramen Noodles With Miso Pesto

You can’t go far wrong with the delicious combination of of spinach, miso, garlic, grapeseed oil and lemon juice which is blended together to make a smooth, green and incredibly fresh and delicious miso pesto which really elevates the already satisfying flavor of ramen noodles to a whole new level, you’ll wonder how you ever tucked into ramen noodles before without first adding in this creamy addition.

19. Electric Skillet Chicken Enchiladas

The chicken in this dish is packed full of cheese to give it a soft and delicate texture but also retains an extremely savory flavor which is incredibly meaty with a little hint of spice, all wrapped in a tortilla.

The added sprinkle of cilantro to garnish the chicken gives it a much needed hint of freshness which makes sure this cheese stuffed dish does not taste too thick or sickly after a few bites.

20. Cilantro Lime Chicken With Avocado Salsa

This recipe really is an all in one meal full of healthy ingredients to get you prepared for the day ahead.

With the fresh avocado salsa layered over the cilantro cauliflower rice and paired up with some juicy cilantro-lime marinated chicken, if you want something filling where you won’t need to worry about calories, this recipe is the perfect choice.

21. Vegan Pad Thai

If you only have a little bit of cilantro to use or just want a little more of a milder option that is still full of unique ingredients and flavors, this vegan pad Thai is not too heavy on the cilantro and incorporates a whole range of greens and a few spices to make a delicious bowl of nutritional goodness.

22. Blood Orange And Mixed Bean Salad With Sprouts

A fresh cup of cilantro is just one ingredient among the many that make up this incredible fruity salad.

With red Thai chile, blood oranges, celery stalks and some alfalfa sprouts thrown into the mix, this is definitely one of the healthiest salads you can find that is still a delight to both make and tuck in to.

23. Chicken Skin With Peanuts, Chiles And Lime

If you’re looking for a dish full of crunch, try out this recipe that uses crispy chicken skin surrounded by peanuts, chiles and lime with just a dash of fresh cilantro to make for a small and appetizing dish that is just so nice to crunch down on with each and every bite.

24. Ultimate Veggie Burger

This veggie burger recipe uses a few special ingredients to not only make the preparation faster, but also enhances the taste tenfold with some garbanzo beans, cilantro, onions and lemon zest to make this burger as light but still filling as possible, perfect for passing around the table so everyone gets one for those big family gatherings or even for a barbecue when you want a veggie alternative that tastes just as good as the real thing.

25. Momo Dumplings Recipe

The puffy fan favorite dumplings in this recipe are packed full of ginger and chile-spiked ricotta, spinach and of course some cilantro to make them incredibly light and breezy, perfect for when you don’t want a dessert that isn’t too big and overwhelming and instead want a nice bite size appetizer that is as delicious as it is easy to make.

26. Roasted Cauliflower With Cumin & Cilantro

Another crunchy dish that makes full use of the chewy texture of cauliflower, with just the few simple additions of cilantro, cumin and lemon juice, it gives the already light and tasteful cauliflower a bit more of a mild kick in taste which makes them that much more appetizing to cook up and feast on either as a delicious starter or after a filling meal where you just want something nutritional you can snack on which still tastes incredible.

27. Sweet Potato & Cilantro Quesadilla With Fried Egg & Cumin Oil

A small appetizing dish that works perfectly as a breakfast, lunch and dinner option, the fried egg in this recipe rests perfectly on top of the cilantro quesadilla base which has a mild flavor with an extremely soft and chewy texture that is still solid enough where it won’t be a nuisance to bite into.

If you want to enjoy the quesadilla goodness on its own or just don’t want to take the time preparing a fried egg as well, you can even remove this from the meal to make this dish even easier to prepare than it already was.

28. Roasted Poblano Soup

This is one of the creamiest, sweetest and most delightful soup recipes that you can make in little to no time at all.

With the cilantro stems to garnish this soup and granting it a burst of sweetened cilantro flavor that fits much better than just a few bits of salad or chopped leaves, this is a delightful soup dish that is a good switch up when you’re getting a bit bored of making the same soup every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Grow A Cilantro Plant?

If you’re thinking of growing some cilantro yourself, there are a few key tips to keep in mind.

In terms of how long cilantro usually takes to grow fully to the point where you can start using it as an ingredient, it is usually between 40 and 70 days after seeding.

This is of course dependent on a few different factors, for example the soil the seeds are planted in needs to be moist to get the best results and in order to get the most out of them once they are ready, try to avoid harvesting more than a third of the plant at any given time.

Temperature is also a big factor, in the colder months around the winter and fall time cilantro plants will be able to survive for a few months, however in the much hotter conditions their life expectancy is far shorter.

If you are worried about your cilantro plant dying, a good method of keeping it alive is simply removing it from the soil and placing it in a jar that is only partially filled with water.

Place them in stem first to stabilize their temperature.

If you want to place them in the refrigerator to make them even cooler, we recommend applying a very loose plastic bag around them as a suitable cover.

Summary

Don’t be one of those people who only knows how to use cilantro as a last minute addition to some soup or lightly sprinkled in a sandwich, try out some of these recipes to find a whole range of different ways you can make full use of the delicious and incredibly unique citrus filled flavor of cilantro today.