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Cilantro-Cumin Dip
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- Total Time
- 20 minutes
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
- ½cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed or safflower
- 5teaspoons cumin seeds
- 2½cups fresh cilantro
- 3tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar (see Note) or additional rice vinegar
- 2teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Pinch cayenne
- Fine sea salt, to taste
- Sugar or other sweetener, to taste (see Note)
Preparation
- Step 1
Pour oil into a small saucepan and add cumin seeds. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and simmer very gently for 10 minutes. Let cool.
- Step 2
Put cilantro, vinegars, mustard and cayenne in the bowl of a food processor or in a blender and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the cooled cumin oil and seeds until the mixture is emulsified and the color lightens.
- Step 3
Taste and add salt and sugar as needed. Pulse once more and transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Seasoned rice vinegar contains ingredients like monosodium glutamate, or MSG, salt and sugar. If you don't have it on hand, use regular rice vinegar and add salt and sugar to taste.
Private Notes
Cooking Notes
This is funny; as I read the title of this recipe I thought "Betcha someone will ask how to make it without cilantro." and you did not disappoint! Reading the comments and queries is so entertaining. Can I substitute zucchini for carrots in carrot cake? How can I convert a standing rib roast to my vegan diet? Make something else, kids.
By sheer number of world cultures which use it daily, cilantro is the #1 herb on earth. It cannot be replaced by parsley, to which it is related. A much better solution might be for cilantro-haters to learn, as I did, to slowly develop a taste for it. It is possible, especially with cumin and chilis. After all, 5 billion people or so can't all be wrong. So, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again! You may be happily surprised and go from hating to loving!
i think it's both-some people perceive the taste of cilantro as objectively bad due a genetic trait; others simply do not care for it. either way, no one should waste time 'learning to like' something they don't by forcing themselves repeatedly to eat it, esp when there are so many other delicious foods to be had! i personally love cilantro, tho there are other foods i came around on - but it happened by chance/naturally, not because i forced myself to eat them over and over.
Can cilantro haters sub parsley or would you suggest another herb?
I cannot begin to tell you how incredible this sauce is. BBQ'ed some filleted pork tenderloin , served it in chunks on Naan with sauce and a touch of lemon. YUM!
Julis C.'s remark is really not helpful. When in need, due to a guest's taste or lack at market, I replace cilantro with parsley and a bit of fresh thyme, oregano, marjoram. Different but delicious.
Count me in the masses who cannot abhor cilantro, number 1 herb or not. Balletgoer, you read my mind when you asked if you could substitute parsley. I am here to tell you that this dip, made with parsley instead of cilantro was scrumptious. While Melissa Clark made this dip for Seder, I made it for Easter. It is a glorious dip and vibrant green and the cumin gives it a kick.
Does the 2 1/2 cup fresh cilantro used in this include stems or only the leaves? Preparing to make it for first time. Assuming since it doesn't call out just leaves that this is whole stem? Thanks to anyone who might know the answer.
This is great. I did not have cumin seeds so used 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin. I mixed it with with rice. I held back a little on the oil and it was still a tad oily but this is a great basis for a million things to do with cilantro! Thanks.
Anyone know how long this keeps in the refrigerator? Assume it can be frozen.
This is very close to an Indian chutney into which pakoras, samosas an other deep-fryed snacks are dipped. Pretty much a rip off. Having said that, may I suggest making it with 2/3 coriander and 1/3 mint. Even more delicious. Or just with mint, and you will have the best English-style mint sauce for roast lamb. Anything is better than that mint jelly which is often offered with lamb.
This recipe contains all the flavors that I love, and I had high hopes for it as a use for the copious amounts of cilantro from my herb garden. The Dijon overwhelmed everything else - next time, I'll omit it entirely (perhaps replace with a squirt of lemon). I now have what is essentially a green Dijon vinaigrette. For those trying the recipe for the first time and wanting to stay true to it, I recommend adding the Dijon in small amounts and tasting along the way.
Does the 2 1/2 cup fresh cilantro used in this include stems or only the leaves? Preparing to make it for first time. Assuming since it doesn't call out just leaves that this is whole stem? Thanks to anyone who might know the answer.
i was surprised to learn that many people are truly allergic to cilantro - to them it tastes like soap. it's not a matter of acclimation. it is genetic. luckily i am not among them.
My husband taught himself to eat hard squashes because he loved growing them....but I agree, there are many foods in the world and NO ONE should force themselves to eat anything. I think if cilantro tastes like soap (which it does for many, including my son), then find something else! Enjoy your food life and do not make this recipe!
Count me in the masses who cannot abhor cilantro, number 1 herb or not. Balletgoer, you read my mind when you asked if you could substitute parsley. I am here to tell you that this dip, made with parsley instead of cilantro was scrumptious. While Melissa Clark made this dip for Seder, I made it for Easter. It is a glorious dip and vibrant green and the cumin gives it a kick.
This is a loser when used on warm chicken and potatoes. The taste of cilantro is over powered by the cumin and oil. A terrible disappointment when so many other recipes were and are winners.
I adore cilantro, dislike parsley so I generally replace parsley with cilantro. Tabbouli is fabulous with cilantro. This recipe looks fantastic, can't wait to try it as cumin is one of my favorite spices.
Hi, cilantro is often hard to get here in Italy. Can I substitute fresh mint?
People who hate cilantro usually have a genetic variation that gives it an awful soapy taste. Julia Child hated cilantro. I love cilantro but hate goat cheese. Vive la difference!
I believe it was an article in the NYT several years ago that it is a survival instinct that makes some people reject flavor of cilantro if they did not grow up with it. But if introduced slowly into diet along with flavors a person likes, then gradually the person will acquire a taste for it. I used to gag at the taste but after reading the article started incorporating it finely chopped into meatloaf, stuffings and fillings, etc,
I read recently that whether or not you have a preference for cilantro is actually a genetic trait. To some people, it just tastes bad. So it's probably not possible to learn to like it.
No. No. Nope I used to hate cilantro esp the smell. Then I started to grow it in my garden. It took one season and I love it. Really love it. Please keep trying cilantro whether it is true not that we each have some genetic kink or not.
i think it's both-some people perceive the taste of cilantro as objectively bad due a genetic trait; others simply do not care for it. either way, no one should waste time 'learning to like' something they don't by forcing themselves repeatedly to eat it, esp when there are so many other delicious foods to be had! i personally love cilantro, tho there are other foods i came around on - but it happened by chance/naturally, not because i forced myself to eat them over and over.
I cannot begin to tell you how incredible this sauce is. BBQ'ed some filleted pork tenderloin , served it in chunks on Naan with sauce and a touch of lemon. YUM!
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