7 Best Cilantro Substitutes in Salsa

Coriander is one of those flavors that people often love or hate. If you’re on the hate side, you’ve probably looked far and wide for substitutes for your favorite recipes that don’t include cilantro as the star herb.

If you feel like making a homemade salsa and don’t like or don’t have cilantro on hand, you may be searching your kitchen wondering, “what can I use instead of cilantro?”

What are the best substitutes for cilantro in salsa? There are many herbs you can use in place of cilantro, but the best substitutes for cilantro in your sauce are parsley, mint, basil, chives, green onion, dill, or even carrot tops.

Each of these ingredients will bring something unique to your sauce, and some pair well with specific additional ingredients.

In this article, we’ll explain the best way to use each of the 7 best cilantro substitutes in salsa.

What is coriander?

Cilantro, also known as fresh coriander or coriander leaves depending on where you live, is one of the most common herbs around the world. It grows easily and the entire plant can be used to flavor and season food.

The seeds, better known as coriander, are often ground and used to flavor hot dishes, especially Indian and South Asian cuisines such as curries, stews, and meat seasonings.

Coriander leaves, on the other hand, are commonly used in fresh preparations, and are popular in South and Southeast Asian and Latin American cuisines, as salsa, guacamole, and as a garnish in soups and salads.

7 Best Cilantro Substitutes in Salsa

Some people have a very unique genetic trait that causes fresh green leafy cilantro to taste unpleasant or soapy. It’s not incredibly common, but enough people dislike the taste of cilantro to look for substitutes.

Below, we’ll outline our favorite alternatives to cilantro for salsa, specifically.

1. parsley

Parsley is a glossy green leafy herb similar to cilantro in appearance and somewhat in flavor. The two herbs are basically cousins, so they can substitute well for one another, though not exactly.

Parsley is a bit more bitter than cilantro and has a slight peppery flavor, but otherwise they are very similar.

It doesn’t have the citrus notes of cilantro, but a squeeze of lemon or lime juice with the parsley makes it taste very similar.

Parsley on its own can taste flat, though it’s great for bringing out the flavors of other seasonings.

Including the parsley with any of the other vegetables on this list will help enhance its flavor, which is very helpful if you don’t have enough of an ingredient to perfectly fill your sauce.

2. Mint

Before you go any further, hear us out. Don’t go away thinking that if you add mint leaves to your sauce it will end up tasting like spicy toothpaste.

Mint is an interesting substitute for cilantro in the sauce. The sauce is traditionally a spicy condiment and the addition of mint adds a chilling factor that will give your taste buds a welcome breather.

The mint is a slightly sweet herb and the menthol adds a burst of freshness that contrasts nicely with the peppers. It goes especially well with mango salsas, as the sweetness and freshness go together so well.

Mint in your sauce also tastes great with some ground coriander seeds, which add warmth and some of the citrus flavors you might miss without using coriander leaves.

Keep in mind that mint leaves tend to go better with lime than lemon when making a sauce.

3. Basil

Basil is best known as the star ingredient in pesto, but it also works well as a cilantro substitute in sauce.

The basil has the same freshness of the mint, a bit of the pepperiness of the parsley, and even adds some of the citrus elements of cilantro, but it has all of this wrapped up in a hint of sweetness.

Due to its sweetness, basil works very well with fruit sauces. A simple tomato sauce is elevated with basil, but if you add mango, peach or strawberry to it, it’s even better.

4. Chives

Chives taste very different from cilantro, but are perfect for the sauce because of their fresh green color and bright, slightly spicy onion-garlic flavor.

The sauce usually contains these two ingredients as well, so the chives enhance the flavor even more and, at the same time, make the dish look even more appetizing.

Adding avocado to the sauce along with the chives adds a creamy contrast that nicely balances the powerful flavor.

5. Green onions

Green onions, or scallions, are also a good substitute for cilantro in the sauce, for the same reasons as chives.

The added benefit of using green onions instead of chives is that you can also use the bulb to add or substitute part of the onion in your recipe, although green leaves tend to be slightly milder in flavor than chives.

There are differences between chives and green onions, but for the purposes of the sauce, they are interchangeable.

If you use green onions in the sauce, always have a little sour cream on hand, as the flavors go together well. The bright, slightly tart freshness of the sour cream tempers the pungency of the onions.

6. Dill

Dill is closely related to parsley, but it has a flavor of its own. Dill pickles are this herb’s biggest claim to fame, although it is a highly versatile feathery green herb.

There are two unique and delicious ways to use dill as a cilantro substitute in your sauce:

1. Sour and Spicy : Just like dill pickles, dill and vinegar sauce is a perfect combination. Use a little apple cider vinegar to bring all the flavors together.
2. Sweet and Spicy : For a sauce with a touch and sweetness more like relish, use a splash of apple cider vinegar and a little sugar, or better yet, straight maple syrup.

Dill also pairs well with mustard, so adding a few crushed mustard seeds or a pinch of mustard powder will add even more depth of flavor to your sauce.

7. Carrot leaves

The leaves or tops of carrots are one of the most underutilized vegetables we can think of. Very few people realize that they are edible, let alone know what to do with them.

Adding them to your next sauce instead of cilantro is a great way to try them.

Carrot leaves taste similar to parsley, but with much of the carrot flavor from the root. They are slightly sweet, slightly bitter, with the earthy, herbaceous flavor common to many leafy green herbs.

Green carrot leaves are more bitter than cilantro, so if you don’t like its spiciness, try using the sauce as a seasoning for plain or starchy foods like baked potatoes or chicken.

You can also serve it with something that has a natural sweetness, like corn on the cob.

The Best Substitutes for Cilantro in Salsa - Summary

We’ve put together a table below to summarize each of the substitutes just listed and to give you a better understanding of which substitute pairs well with which ingredients.

Coriander Substitutes

If you’re still having trouble deciding how to make your cilantro-free salsa, try our Cilantro-Free Mango Salsa Recipe for a delicious, guided experiment.

Related questions

Are cilantro and coriander the same thing?

In many parts of the world, coriander is called fresh coriander. Cilantro, as we know it in North America, is the leafy green herb that grows from coriander seeds.

When we refer to coriander, we mean the leaves of the plant.

Cilantro, as we know it, comes from the same plant, but this name is often used to refer to the seeds of the plant ground up as a spice.

Does coriander taste like coriander?

Coriander and coriander come from the same plant, so they have a similar flavor profile, but there are also significant differences.

Coriander is the green, leafy part of the plant, which has a slightly bitter, citrusy flavor and a very fragrant, herbaceous aroma.

Coriander, on the other hand, is a spice that adds warmth and nutty flavor to a dish. However, the seeds have the characteristic citrus undertones.

If you’re unlucky enough to think cilantro tastes like soap, the same thing might happen to you with cilantro.

This is a genetic trait, and depending on your sensitivity to flavor, you may find cilantro quite delicious, even if you hate cilantro. Unfortunately, you won’t know for sure until you try it.

What is a good substitute for ground cilantro?

Despite being different parts of the same plant, coriander is not a good cilantro substitute.

They are used in very different recipes. Instead, try substituting cumin for the ground coriander. Both are ground spices, and cumin has a similar citrus note, although it tastes a bit smokier than coriander.

Caraway, or fennel, is another spice that is very similar to coriander and can be used as a substitute, although it has a slightly sweeter undertone.