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HOMEMADE CORIANDER POWDER(ground coriander powder).

A guide on how to make coriander powder using whole coriander seeds.

You will also learn how to use and the benefits of using coriander powder in your cooking.

The spice powder is an essential component in cooking curries, especially in Sri Lankan and Indian cooking.

From my grandmother’s slow-cooked beef curry to making a basic Sri Lankan thuna paha curry powder to garam masala, coriander powder is a key ingredient.

ground coriander powder in aspice blender.

We all know the herb cilantro or coriander plant.

You might even recognize some different names used to identify this herb, like Chinese parsley, dhania or coriander leaves.

Coriander or coriander seeds are from this coriander plant.

The flowers of the plant, produce these spice seeds in large quantities.

coriander seeds to be dry roasted for the use of making coriander powder.

Though coriander seeds and coriander leaves are produced from the same plant, their flavour profiles and uses are completely different.

  • Coriander leaves

Coriander leaves are also referred to as cilantro leaves.

The most important thing you need to remember is, that coriander leaves(cilantro)are used as a,

  1. garnish
  2. Blended into a marinade
  3. Making pestos.
  4. Or added at the last minute of cooking curries to add a subtle peppery flavour to them.
  • Coriander powder

Coriander powder is the result of roasting and grinding the coriander seeds into coarse or fine powder.

  1. Cooking curries
  2. soups
  3. Makin dry rubs and marinades.
  4. For grilling and baking poultry, meat, seafood and certain vegetables. 
coriander powder scooping with a silver spoon.
  • Helps to remove harmful chemicals in your body the natural way.
  • Coriander powder helps to cool down your body.
  • Helps digestion.
  • Promotes heart, healthy hair and skin.
fresh coriander powder made with coriander seeds.
Cumin Vs coriander, what is the difference?

Cumin and coriander powder have two very different flavours as well as fragrances.

These two spice powders can be used separately as well as together but never work as a substitute for each other.

While coriander powder has sweeter and peppery tones and a distinct fragrance, cumin powder is a much stronger spice powder.

When used incorrectly, cumin can overwhelm the coriander taste, so using them together needs to be done with great care.

To compliment not to overwhelm.

If you look up a substitution for coriander powder, the general advice is to use cumin powder.

As mentioned above,

Cumin is a much more pungent and stronger spice than coriander powder.

While you won’t usually taste coriander powder used with cumin, it provides an essential base for every curry and for the cumin flavours to shine through.

If you STILL want to substitute coriander powder with cumin(not recommended) then use ONLY 1/2 teaspoon of cumin when instructions say 1 tablespoon of coriander powder.

But there definitely will be a difference in taste. you have been warned.

fresh coriander powder scooping with a spoon.
  • What is the spice powder ratio to follow when using coriander powder and cumin powder together?
    • The ratio would be 1:2
    • For every 1 spoon(tablespoon or teaspoon)of cumin powder use 2 spoons of coriander(tablespoon or teaspoon).
    • You can add an extra spoon of coriander sometimes to thicken a curry as well. you’ll still taste the cumin due to its pungency.
  • Why you should dry roast the coriander seeds first?
    • If you are making your own spice blend or grinding individual spices, keep in mind, that they need to be exposed to some kind of heat to bring the best out of them.
    • When gently dry roasted, the subtle oils in the coriander seeds(not visible to the eye)will make the coriander powder darker and stronger in flavour.
    • Removing any type of moisture also helps the spice with a longer shelf life.
  • What spices will complement ground coriander?
    • Cumin powder, fennel seeds, pepper, allspice, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, curry powders(for more depth and strength), ginger, and garlic.
  • What are the vegetables that will complement ground coriander?
    • beans, carrots, chickpeas, potatoes, and tomatoes.
  • Name a few cuisines from the world that use ground coriander.

Indian cuisine, Sri Lankan cuisine, Moroccan, southeast Asian, Vietnamese, and the Mediterranean are some of the prominent cuisines you will find coriander powder used.

  • large sieve to help wash the coriander seeds.
  • A medium-sized bowl.
  • Platter.
  • Some paper kitchen towels.
  • Spice grinder or a coffee grinder.
  • Microwave-friendly plate(if you are using the microwave to dry the seeds)
raw coriander powder scooped with a silver spoon.
  • Keep in mind the quality of the coriander goes down, this means the pungency and strength reduce with use and time. 
  • I would suggest grinding coriander powder that will last up to a month or two, it’s how long the quality of your coriander powder will remain strong.
  • The ideal quantity would be 100-250g of a batch depending on how much curries you cook.
  • Store your jar of coriander in a moisture-free environment. 
  • Use a dry, glass bottle(mason jar)with a tight lid to store your coriander powder. 
  • When using the spice powder, always use a dry spoon or a spoon in the coriander powder container used for only this purpose.

Sri Lankan chicken curry.

Slow-cooked beef curry(my grandmother’s recipe)

How to cook a chicken curry without coconut milk.

Sri Lankan black pepper chicken curry.

Black pepper beef curry(Sri Lankan)

Sri Lankan chicken meatball curry

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

2 cups of coriander seeds

There are 3 steps to making coriander seed powder.

  • Wash the coriander seeds.
  • Drying the coriander seeds.
  • Dry roast the coriander seeds.
  • Grinding the coriander seeds.
  • Storing the seeds for longer shelf life.

Despite the coriander seeds being packed in air-tight packages, I would recommend washing as dirt particles might end up before packaging.

Place the coriander seeds in a large sieve.

Immediately transfer the powder into an airtight, dry, clean glass jar.

Keep the sieve under running water, wash and pick out any impurities that you find.

washing the coriander seeds.

Drain any excess water and place the sieve over a bowl to drain excess water.

Once in a while, gently shake the sieve to move the coriander seeds around to dry them.

This would take 30 to 45 minutes.

letting the coriander seeds drain water.
  • Drying the coriander seeds under the sun(the old-fashioned way).
    • Place the washed and semi-dry coriander seeds on a tray.
    • Place the tray under the sun to dry the coriander seeds naturally. 
    • If you are using the sun to dry the coriander seeds, make sure it’s somewhere clean, where bird droppings and traffic fumes dust can’t get to the coriander seeds.
    • Find a spot in your home where the sun shines and place the platter with the coriander seeds to dry.
    • This can take 2 or 3 days.
    • This probably is not possible for most of you so the below options would be best.
  • How to dry the coriander seeds using the microwave.
    • This is the quickest way to dry the coriander seeds.
    • Place the coriander seeds on a microwave-friendly plate or platter.
placing the damp coriander seeds on a microwavable plate.

Microwave the coriander seeds in 30 seconds intervals for 2 minutes which will completely dry the coriander seeds.

dried coriander seeds on a plate.

Once you have the coriander seeds dry.

Set a frying pan over low-medium heat. heat the pan for 2 minutes.

Add the coriander seeds onto the hot pan and gently dry roast the seeds while continuously moving them around.

Dry roast for 3-5 minutes or until the coriander releases its aroma.

Transfer the coriander seeds onto a plate and let it cool(30 minutes).

Once the coriander seeds have cooled down, use a coffee grinder or the spice grinder unit in your blender to grind the coriander seeds.

Use the pulse button to do this.

coriander seeds placed in a grinder to turn into a spice powder.

Grind until you have a coarse powder.

coriander powder crushed in a spice grinder.

Tip-for an easier transfer of the ground coriander powder use a funnel.

Immediately transfer the powder into an airtight, dry, clean glass jar.

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how to grind coriander powder.

how to make coriander powder and how to use it.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

A guide on how to grind whole coriander seeds to make your own coriander powder at home.

Coriander powder is an essential curry powder in cooking curries, especially in Sri Lankan and Indian cooking.

Ingredients

  • Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
  • 2 cups coriander seeds

Instructions

  1. There are 3 steps to making coriander seed powder.
  2. Washing the coriander seeds.
  3. Drying the coriander seeds.
  4. Dry roasting the seeds.
  5. Grinding the coriander seeds.
  6. Storing the seeds for longer shelf life.
  7. Despite the coriander seeds being packed in air-tight packages, I would recommend washing as dirt particles might end up before packaging.
  8. Place the coriander seeds in a large sieve.
  9. Keep the sieve under running water, wash and pick out any impurities that you find.
  10. Drain any excess water and place the sieve over a bowl to drain excess water.
  11. Once in a while, gently shake the sieve to move the coriander seeds around to dry them.
  12. This would take 30 to 45 minutes.

How to dry the coriander seeds(2 Ways).

  1. Drying the coriander seeds under the sun(the old-fashioned way).
  2. Place the washed and semi-dry coriander seeds on a tray.
  3. Place the tray under the sun to dry the coriander seeds naturally. 
  4. If you are using the sun to dry the coriander seeds, make sure it’s somewhere clean, where bird droppings and traffic fumes dust can’t get to the coriander seeds.
  5. Find a spot in your home where the sun shines and place the platter with the coriander seeds to dry.
  6. This can take 2 or 3 days.
  7. This probably is not possible for most of you so the below options would be best.
  8. How to dry the coriander seeds using the microwave.
  9. This is the quickest way to dry the coriander seeds.
  10. Place the coriander seeds on a microwave-friendly plate or platter.
  11. Microwave the coriander seeds in 30 seconds intervals for 2 minutes which will completely dry the coriander seeds.
  12. How to dry roast the coriander seeds.
  13. Once you have the coriander seeds dry.
    Set a frying pan over low-medium heat. heat the pan for 2 minutes.
  14. Add the coriander seeds onto the hot pan and gently dry roast the seeds while continuously moving them around.
  15. Dry roast for 3-5 minutes or until the coriander releases its aroma.
  16. Transfer the coriander seeds onto a plate and let it cool(30 minutes).

How to grind the coriander seeds to a powder.

  1. Once the coriander seeds have cooled down, use a coffee grinder or the spice grinder unit in your blender to grind the coriander seeds.
  2. Use the pulse button to do this.
  3. Grind until you have a coarse powder.

Tip-for an easier transfer of the ground coriander powder use a funnel.

  1. Immediately transfer the powder into an airtight, dry, clean glass jar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 248Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 29mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 35gSugar: 0gProtein: 10g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

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Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.
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sylvia

Sunday 19th of December 2021

thank you so much for your information on coriander versus cumin - I knew I would learn something :)

jehan

Monday 20th of December 2021

Hi Sylvia, You are most welcome. glad I could help you. regards, J

Hesala Hettiarachchi

Friday 4th of September 2020

Hi Jehan, In U.K we got cleaned packet. Do I need to wash that one before fry? Please let me know. Thank you xx

Hesala Hettiarachchi

Thursday 10th of September 2020

Hi Jehan, Thank you so much for your guidance through the email. You are so amazing xx

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