Cilantro Root: Benefits, Uses, and Common Ways to Eat It

Cilantro root is the root of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), and many people casually cut it off and throw it away when preparing vegetables. In fact, this part has a stronger aroma than the leaves, and its fibers are a bit coarser; in the traditional cooking of many places it has long been treated as a usable ingredient. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, cilantro is warm in nature and pungent in taste, and the whole plant is used medicinally, so the root is naturally included as well.

Folk tradition often holds that cilantro root stimulates the appetite and aids digestion and helps promote sweating, and in some places there is also an old practice of boiling cilantro root in water when a child's measles rash is slow to emerge in its early stage. These claims mostly come from traditional experience; they can be taken as reference, but they cannot replace proper medical treatment. In addition, the volatile oils and aromatic compounds in cilantro root are exactly what give cilantro its distinctive smell, making it very suitable for removing fishiness and boosting fragrance.

As for how to eat it, once cilantro root is washed clean it can be crushed and tossed into cold dishes, or put in the pot to stew together with fish or meat, both removing fishiness and adding aroma. When making soup, adding a few pieces of the root makes the broth taste fresher. Thai cuisine also commonly uses cilantro root, often pounded together with garlic and pepper to make a seasoning base.

It should be noted that cilantro root has a strong aroma, and not everyone is suited to eating a lot of it. Tradition holds that people with qi deficiency and a weak constitution, those who sweat easily, and those with bad breath or body odor should not eat much of it, and people with easily irritated skin should also try it in small amounts first. Before eating, the soil on the roots should be thoroughly washed off under running water, and if necessary soaked briefly in lightly salted water, so that it can be eaten with more peace of mind.