The Simple Trick For Substituting Coriander With Cumin - Tasting Table

"Coriander and cumin aren't direct substitutes. Cumin is more pungent and earthy, so if used in place of coriander, I recommend using about half the amount and adding a touch of citrus zest or fennel seed to restore brightness."

"A better substitute than cumin would be fennel or caraway, as they share coriander's lighter, more aromatic profile. Cumin has a much earthier and bitter quality, while coriander is brighter, even sweet."

Cooking requires learning to adapt recipes through ingredient substitutions. While simple swaps like butter for margarine are straightforward, replacing spices like coriander with cumin requires more careful consideration. Chef Tatiana Mora explains that cumin is more pungent and earthy than coriander, making it unsuitable as a direct replacement. When substituting, use approximately half the amount of cumin and add citrus zest or fennel seed to restore the brightness coriander provides. Cumin works best in warming, hearty dishes. Better alternatives to coriander include fennel or caraway, which share coriander's lighter, more aromatic profile. Though cumin and coriander come from different plants in the same family, they possess distinct flavor characteristics.

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