Cilantro
What is Cilantro?
Cilantro is the fresh leaf of the coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum) - an aromatic herb with a bright, slightly citrusy, and unmistakably pungent flavour that appears across Afghan, Persian, South Asian, Mexican, and East Asian cooking as a fresh garnish, sauce ingredient, and flavour component. Unlike the dried coriander seeds (which have a warm, rounded warmth), fresh cilantro is sharp, green, and divisive: roughly 20% of the human population experiences cilantro as soap-flavoured due to a genetic variation in odour receptor genes, while the majority finds it fresh and aromatic.
In Afghan cooking, cilantro appears most visibly in green chutney - the fresh blended sauce served with bolanee and various Afghan appetisers - and as a garnish on cooked dishes where a bright, green, herbaceous note is needed to cut through the richness of slow-cooked meat and sauce. The Fattoush Salad at Naan Kabob includes fresh cilantro as part of its herb base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some people think cilantro tastes like soap?
Cilantro contains aldehydes - the same chemical compounds present in soap - and people with a variant in the OR6A2 odour receptor gene detect these aldehydes very strongly, experiencing cilantro as soapy. For everyone else, the aldehydes are present but masked by other aroma compounds that produce the characteristic fresh, citrusy flavour. It is one of the clearest examples of how genetics shapes taste perception.
Can cilantro be omitted from Afghan dishes?
Yes. Cilantro is a garnish and sauce ingredient in most Afghan dishes - important for flavour but not structural. If you dislike cilantro, ask for dishes without the herb garnish. The slow-cooked components (qorma, mantu sauces, rice) do not typically contain raw cilantro, so you can avoid it largely by preference.
Is cilantro used in the green chutney at Naan Kabob?
Yes. Naan Kabob's green chutney - served with bolanee - is a fresh cilantro-based sauce, blended with garlic, lemon, and green chilli. If you dislike cilantro, this particular condiment is worth skipping; the yogurt dip is an excellent alternative.
See also: Coriander, Chutney ,Garnish.
Fresh cilantro chutney with bolanee - one of the best bites at Naan Kabob, available at all GTA locations.
