This small but extremely useful vegetable not only contributes to the flavor of dishes, but is also a valuable medicine in Oriental medicine, even associated with the custom of bathing in old coriander leaves at the end of the year to ward off bad luck.
In the Vietnamese countryside, no one is unfamiliar with bunches of green coriander, with slender stems but a characteristic strong aroma.
Coriander - One of the indispensable spices
In Vietnamese cuisine, coriander appears from the vermicelli stalls at the corner to the steaming pho shops, from the simple family meals to the full trays of Tet dishes. The light, elegant scent of coriander can soften the fatty taste of meat, enhance the flavor of dipping sauce, or simply create a refreshing taste when eaten with rolled dishes.
Coriander is one of the indispensable spices in Vietnamese chicken pho. Photo: Hoa Pham
Northerners have a saying:
"Chicken must have lemon leaves
Coriander must be on the side to be complete.
Indeed, a hot bowl of soup without a pinch of chopped coriander is like missing a part of the flavor, a bit of the essence of home cuisine.
Not only present in soup dishes such as pho, vermicelli, porridge, coriander is also an indispensable ingredient in salads, or eaten with bread, creating an irresistible, elegant yet passionate flavor.
How to grow coriander at home is extremely simple
Coriander is an easy-to-grow plant that is not too picky about soil. It only needs loose, well-drained soil to grow well. People usually plant coriander in the winter-spring season, when the weather is cool, because if the weather is too hot, the plant will easily become stunted and bloom quickly.
Coriander is extremely easy to grow. Photo: HL
To have a good coriander garden, the soil must first be carefully prepared. The soil needs to be plowed, weeded, and then a little organic fertilizer added to increase its nutritional value.
Before sowing, coriander seeds should be soaked in warm water for about half a day and then gently rubbed to split the shell, helping the seeds germinate faster. When sowing, the seeds are sprinkled evenly on the bed, covered with a thin layer of soil and kept moist by lightly misting every day.
Just be a little meticulous, know how to cultivate and water, and coriander will always be green and lush. Photo: HL
After about a week, green shoots will start to appear. Coriander is a very fast growing vegetable, it can be harvested in about three weeks. When cutting, leave about 2-3 cm of the base, continue to water regularly so that the vegetable can grow a new crop.
Indeed, with just a little care, knowing how to cultivate and water, coriander will always be green and lush, each time it is cut, it will grow a new layer, giving the whole family vegetables to eat all year round.
Small but mighty vegetable: captivating aroma, surprising uses
There are dishes that, without coriander, will lose some of their flavor. A bowl of steaming beef noodle soup, sprinkled with a little chopped coriander, will give off an alluring aroma, making diners feel warm even before they eat. A plate of shredded chicken salad, in addition to onions and Vietnamese coriander, also needs coriander, which adds a refreshing taste and reduces the greasy taste.
Not only that, coriander can also be eaten raw with bread, rolled in spring rolls or included in stir-fried or grilled dishes. Gourmets often say that coriander has a very unique flavor - light but not bland, strong but not harsh, helping to balance the taste and make the dish more harmonious.
Not only is it a spice in many dishes, coriander is also considered a "lucky" herb. On the first days of the year, many people have the habit of using old coriander to bathe or boil water to wash their face for good luck. Photo: Linh Nguyen
Not only beautifying dishes, coriander is also a precious herb in Oriental medicine. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam - former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition: "Coriander contains a lot of vitamin C, carotene, antioxidants that help strengthen immunity, improve digestion and protect cardiovascular health."
Coriander is also known for its ability to relieve colds, treat coughs, and help warm the body on cold days. Ancient people often boiled coriander water to bathe when they had a cold, helping them sweat and reduce fever quickly.
Not only that, this small vegetable also has beauty benefits. Many women tell each other the tip of using coriander juice to wash their face, helping to brighten the skin and reduce acne thanks to its natural antibacterial properties.
In addition to its culinary and health benefits, coriander is also associated with the custom of bathing in coriander leaves on the last day of the year. Vietnamese people believe that coriander leaf water can help dispel bad luck, cleanse the body and spirit to enter the new year full of vitality.
Ms. Minh, an 80-year-old woman in Ha Dong, Hanoi, recalled: "When I was young, every afternoon on the 30th of Tet, my mother boiled a pot of water with coriander leaves for the whole family to bathe in. The fragrance spread throughout the house, feeling like washing away all the worries of the old year to welcome Tet with a more peaceful heart."
Even today, despite more modern life, many people still maintain this habit as a way to connect with traditional values.
Coriander, though small, has a very special place in Vietnamese cuisine and life.
Coriander, though small, has a very special place in Vietnamese cuisine and life. It not only makes dishes more attractive, but also carries nutritional and medicinal values and meaningful traditional customs.
From rustic countryside fields to family dining tables, coriander is always present as a familiar part of life, reminiscent of warm, family-friendly meals and the pure aromas of the homeland.
Source: https://danviet.vn/loai-rau-mui-dan-da-mang-may-man-dau-nam-da-lam-gia-vi-lai-giup-giai-cam-lam-dep-hon-thuoc-bo-20250205161037778.htm
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