Coriander

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb commonly used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian, Latin American, Chinese, African and Southeast Asian cuisine. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the most commonly used in cooking. Coriander belongs to the parsley or carrot family, Apiaceae. It is also commonly called cilantro (see below).

Related Topics:
Annual - Herb - Middle East - Mediterranean - India - Latin America - Chinese - Southeast Asia - Parsley - Carrot - Apiaceae

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The name coriander derives from Latin coriandrum, which was first noted by Pliny. The Latin word derives in turn from Greek corys, a "bedbug", plus -ander, "resembling", and refers to the supposed similarity of the scent of the crushed leaves to the distinctive odor of bedbugs (which we have largely forgotten in this age of insecticides).

Related Topics:
Latin - Pliny - Greek - Bedbug - Insecticide

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