Parsley vs Cilantro
Parsley and cilantro are aromatic, leafy herbs that come from the same botanical family. In some regions, people refer to cilantro as Chinese parsley.
Parsley and cilantro are similar in looks, but you can tell the difference if you examine the looks of the leaves. Parsley leaves are more pointed and cilantro leaves are more rounded. What is the best difference way to tell difference between parsley and cilantro?
The best way to tell the two apart is by smelling them. Cilantro has a much stronger and spicier aroma while parsley has a more herbal and fresh scent. The smell and taste of cilantro can be described as soap-like because they contain compounds that are like soap.
Although both cilantro and parsley are used in cooking, they also have a long history of use in traditional medicine.
When it comes to nutrients, both parsley and cilantro have similar nutritional value. Both are low in protein, fat, calories, and carbs. Also, both are rich in vitamins which makes them a great asset to your diet. Parsley contains a lot of vitamin K. Only 28 grams of parsley can provide 6 times more than recommended value of vitamin K. Why is vitamin K important? Vitamin K is especially important for strong bones and healthy blood clotting.
Both herbs are rich in phenolic compounds, antioxidants that can protect your DNA and cells from oxidative damage.
Is Cilantro Good for You?
There are countless reasons why cilantro is good for you. Cilantro has been used traditionally as an anti-depressant, anti-epileptic and anti-inflammatory compound. Researchers have found that using cilantro in food can prevent heterocyclic amines which have been linked with an increase in the risk of cancer.
Studies found that consuming cilantro regularly can reduce the occurrence of epileptic seizures. Researchers found that consumption of cilantro can reduce brain damage and brain disease.
Cilantro has many amazing benefits including some benefits for your mental health. Researchers have investigated that cilantro has effects on mood, reducing anxiety that’s on the same level as prescription medication. The extract in cilantro can lead to relaxing muscles and it has sedative effects.
Many researchers are praising the use of herbs including cilantro as a great benefit for managing health conditions such as diabetes. There is a lot of research that supports the idea that cilantro can reduce the level of hyperglycemia. On the other side, researchers failed to find that herb treatment can reduce excessive thirst, which is a common symptom of diabetes.
Another amazing benefit of cilantro is its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects which were found in studies both on humans and animals. It’s been found that consumption of cilantro can reduce pain by 50% in animals. In another study, on humans, it’s been found that for those who have rheumatoid arthritis, cilantro can improve mobility, and reduce plan and inflammation.
Parsley and cilantro are aromatic, leafy herbs that come from the same botanical family.
Can you Substitute Cilantro for Parsley?
Can you replace cilantro with parsley? Some will notice that cilantro has a soap-like taste while parsley doesn’t have the same taste. If you are very particular about your cooking and recipes, you shouldn’t mix and replace cilantro or parsley and vice versa.
Parsley is a mild verb that adds a fresh flavor to many dishes. Also, parsley is often used as a garnish. The two varieties of parsley are curly and flat-leaf. Also, parsley is available fresh and dried. It has a few calories, and it is rich in minerals and vitamins.
If you are replacing cilantro or parsley or vice versa you should opt only for dried replacements, not fresh ones. Although they might be similar in look, the tase of parsley and cilantro is completely different. However, both parsley and cilantro have nutritional value and could be replaced in those terms.
If you are using cilantro for Mexican and Thai food, then we would not recommend replacing cilantro with parsley. Strong-flavored herb like cilantro is perfect for spicy foods such as Mexican food. Also, cilantro has a very bright flavor which may clash with certain ingredients that are a better fit for parsley compared to cilantro.
Is Italian Parsley and Cilantro the Same Thing?
Some people might confuse Italian parsley with cilantro, but they are not the same thing. What is the exact difference between Italian parsley and cilantro? Italian parsley has a clean flavor with a bitter undertone. It’s often used in Mediterranean cuisine which is the main reason for the name Italian parsley. Compared to regular parsley, Italian parsley has green and flat leaves. It’s often confused with cilantro.
Cilantro and Italian Parsley are both used in Mediterranean cuisine, in northern Africa, South America, Asia, and Central America. Italian parsley is way more similar to cilantro compared to regular parsley. All parts of Italian parsley are edible with regular parsley and cilantro. The leaves of the Italian parsley are rich in iron and nutritious. It has low calories and contains potassium, manganese, calcium, and magnesium along with vitamins.
The leaves of Italian parsley are antioxidants and can control cholesterol in the blood. The plant can act as an antiseptic for gum diseases. It can improve the immune system and prevent cancer. Also, it minimizes neuronal damage in Alzheimer’s disease in patients. It’s important to know that a great amount of Italian parsley can harm pregnant women and can lead to preterm labor and bleeding. It’s an excellent mouth refresher and helps with digestion, infections, and common colds.
In ancient times parsley, in general, was used to get rid of hangovers.
