The Secret Ingredient: Coriander

Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant. For those who have a love/hate relationship with cilantro, coriander has a completely different taste profile. I love coriander and think cilantro tastes like soap. Coriander has a host of healthy benefits from boosting digestive health, lowering blood sugar levels to stimulating memory. It also helps protect the lungs.

Steamed Mussels

2T olive oil

1 small onion, chopped (1/2c)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 can peeled tomatoes, drained & chopped

1t ground coriander

1/2c white wine

5# mussels, scrubbed

Sauté onion and garlic in oil in a deep, heavy pot with a lid. Add tomatoes and coriander. Add wine and mussels. Bring to a boil. Cover the pot, lower the heat slightly, and steam the mussels for 6-10 minutes (depending on size) until they open. Do not overcook or they will shrivel an nobody likes a shriveled mussel. Using  a slotted spoon, remove mussels from pot into a serving bowl with some of the broth. Serve with crusty sliced bread.

Carrot & Coriander Soup

3T vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

1t ground coriander

2c peeled and grated carrots

2-3c qt vegetable stock

1/4c cream (if desired)

cilantro leaves for garnish (if desired)

Sauté onion in oil, raise heat to medium, add coriander and carrots and cook until carrots soften. Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool a bit. Either using an immersion or standing blender, blend soup until smooth. Serve in bowls and top with cilantro leaves (if you want your soup to taste like soap.)