No Cilantro? No Problem! Try These Easy Substitutes (2024)

Picture this: it's Taco Tuesday, and you're getting all your ingredients prepped for your favorite taco recipe. But oh uh, you just realized you don't have any cilantro! Or maybe you're one of those poor unfortunate souls that think cilantro tastes like soap. (Don't worry, about 20 percent of the population does, so you're not alone!) Either way, you've got to find a solution ASAP. The good news is there are plenty of delicious cilantro substitutes, and we bet you've got a few in your kitchen already.

Though cilantro is most synonymous with Mexican and Thai cuisines and neighboring regions, its bright, slightly citrusy flavor can add freshness to practically any type of meal. What we call "cilantro" is actually the coriander plant, so everything from the leaves to stems to seeds can be used to flavor food. It's one of those universal herbs that works just as well during the cooking process (for say, sweet potato chili) as it is to garnish at the end for a flavorful pop (here's looking at you, guacamole).

So if you forgot to add it to your indoor herb garden this year, what exactly can you use to substitute cilantro in your next meal? We've got six of the best options for you right here, depending on how you're using it and what you might have available in your kitchen. So don't fret, taco lovers. Sprinkle on a touch of these cilantro substitutes and save your Tuesday from the flavor doldrums.

Naturally, since cilantro is actually coriander, the ground spice (or grinding the seeds yourself) is a great substitute. Remember that the ground version will be more potent than fresh, so start with a quarter to half of the amount in a recipe to start. It's best cooked to develop flavor rather than a garnish.

If it's a pop of freshness you want, you'll get it with a squeeze of lime juice. You'll often see lime paired with cilantro because it helps amplify the citrusy notes and tame heat, so it will be great on it's own as well. You'll miss out on the herbaceous flavor, so you can add a little parsley, too, if you've got it.

While any kind of basil leaves will help add that fresh herby flavor when sprinkled as a garnish, Thai basil in particular has that slightly citrusy note just like cilantro. Look for spear-like pointy leaves and a purple tint to tell the difference from its Italian counterpart.

Did you know cumin is part of the parsley family? Yup! So it makes sense it would be a good sub, but we recommend it in a pinch―literally! Gound cumin can be quite pungent, so use it sparingly and in dishes that are already flavorful like chili recipes. Stick with other options for garnish.