Distinguish culantro, cilantro and coriander parts in Thai cooking
Culantro and cilantro are different plants, and coriander can mean leaf, stem, root or seed. Learn which one a Thai recipe means and when substitution makes sense.
Contents
The short answer
Culantro and cilantro are two different plants. Culantro is Eryngium foetidum, also called sawtooth coriander or recao. Cilantro is the leaves and stems of Coriandrum sativum, the same plant whose dried seeds are sold as coriander. For a Thai recipe, first work out which plant it means. If it means Coriandrum sativum, then work out which part: leaf, stem, root or seed.
Two plants that share a name
There are not two kinds of cilantro. Two unrelated herbs share part of a name, and that causes the mix-up. Gardening writer Corinne Mossati identifies culantro as Eryngium foetidum and coriander as Coriandrum sativum. She also gives an easy visual check. Culantro has long leaves with toothed edges. Coriander leaves are smaller and softer.
| Name you may see | Plant | What it usually refers to |
| Culantro, sawtooth coriander, recao | Eryngium foetidum | Long, saw-edged leaves of a separate herb |
| Cilantro (North American usage) | Coriandrum sativum | Fresh leaves and stems |
| Coriander (North American usage) | Coriandrum sativum | Dried seed |
| Coriander (Australian usage) | Coriandrum sativum | The fresh herb |
Sawtooth coriander is therefore not cilantro. In English it is usually called culantro, and "sawtooth" describes its serrated leaf edges.
Reading "coriander" in a recipe
Regional naming matters most here. Some recipes come from places where "coriander" means the fresh herb, as in Australian usage. Others follow North American usage, where it means the dried seed. Use context to decide. If the recipe says to chop, scatter or garnish, it wants fresh leaves. If it says to toast or grind, or lists coriander next to other dried spices, it wants seed. Do not use seed when a recipe asks for the fresh herb just because both share the coriander name.
How Thai cooking uses each part of coriander
Cilantro, meaning Coriandrum sativum, is used in Thai cooking, and different parts do different jobs. Chef Bo Songvisava describes these roles:
- Roots: pounded into pastes and simmered in broths
- Stems: added to stocks and soups
- Leaves: used for fresh fragrance
- Seeds: used for a deeper, earthy seasoning
Meals she describes show these roles in practice: stems in a fish laab (a minced, herb-heavy salad), seeds in curry paste and roots in soup. These are documented uses, not a rule that every Thai dish contains coriander. If a recipe names a specific part, such as coriander root for a paste, use that part. Leaves will not give the same result.
Do culantro and cilantro taste the same?
No. Chef Aliya LeeKong describes culantro as stronger and more pungent than cilantro. That difference matters when deciding whether to swap one for the other.
Can you use culantro instead of cilantro?
Yes, as a deliberate change to the recipe, not a one-to-one swap. LeeKong suggests culantro can stand in for cilantro but gives no fixed conversion ratio. Because culantro is more pungent, it will change the dish's flavor. Culantro only replaces cilantro leaves. It does not replace coriander root in a paste or coriander seed in a spice blend.
Illustrative example: a simple ingredient worksheet helps you plan a substitution before you shop.
Herb name in recipe: coriander
Plant identity: Coriandrum sativum
Part requested: root
Quantity/preparation: as written in recipe, pounded into paste
Substitution: none (culantro or seed is not a root replacement)
Herb name in recipe: cilantro
Plant identity: Coriandrum sativum
Part requested: leaves
Quantity/preparation: as written in recipe, for garnish
Substitution: culantro (deliberate adaptation)
Conversion: unset - recipe gives none; taste, as culantro is more pungentWays to use culantro
LeeKong suggests culantro for chutneys, curry pastes and as a garnish for soups and noodle dishes. Its stronger flavor suits places where you want the herb to stand out.
Where to buy culantro
Culantro is less common than cilantro in mainstream US grocery stores. LeeKong describes finding it at specialty markets in New York. Her account is a past example rather than a current store guide, so check with local specialty grocers before you count on it for a recipe. It may be sold as culantro, sawtooth coriander or recao, so look for those names.
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