Although the leaves and dried seeds are most commonly used in cooking, the entire cilantro plant is edible. The stems of the plant also have a strong flavor and are commonly used in dishes like Thai curry pastes and soups.

Cilantro has delicate, lacy green leaves, resembling flat leaf parsley. It has a pungent, complex, citrusy flavor. Cilantro leaves are often added to a dish just before serving because their flavor diminishes with cooking. Coriander seeds are small and round with a yellowish brown color and longitudinal ridges.

Cilantro is a green, leafy herb that resembles parsley. It's the leafy part of the coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum), which produces seeds that are used as a spice. For those who appreciate it, cilantro tastes like a stronger version of parsley, with a tangy citrus flavor.

In Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba, both cilantro and culantro are commonly used in sofrito, a sauce that is used as a mirepoix in these countries. There are multiple names for cilantro in Latin America.