Sunday, November 6, 2016

Cilantro....love it or hate it? Perhaps an acquired taste?

Cilantro divides the masses...
there are people who love the taste
and in our group of friends and family,
an equal number of people who despise the flavour.

Fortunately we are in the "love it group"
and have a green house with a bumper crop of cilantro just waiting to be picked.

Mr. HB suggested that I find some recipes online so that we do not waste the plants.


Here is the link to the recipe for
Pasta with Almond Spinach Cilantro Pesto and Sausages.

You will need a food processor to make quick work of the pesto.



The pesto makes enough for the recipe with leftovers that you can freeze for future use. The author suggest that you freeze the pesto in ice cube trays but we have an automatic ice cube maker in our freezer so I used my trusty scoop and freeze them in a container and when they are frozen I will pop them in a ziploc bag.


Lovely shade of green...and the taste is divine!



Busy cooking in the Humble Bungalow Kitchen


Love this shallow Sophie Conran Portmeirion bowl
I use it for salads and pasta.


a few shavings of parmesan cheese and dinner is served
just as I expected Mr. HB enjoyed the new recipe and there were no leftovers.


Pretty African Violets line the windowsills at Goward House. 
 I take French lessons and play bridge in this heritage home which has been converted to a club for seniors.

Next time I go to a flower shop I am going to pick up a few of these plants....
they are very inexpensive, easy to grow and bloom for a long time.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

31 comments:

marmielu said...

I know exactly what you mean about cilantro......I love it, and the hubby hates it. ( We grow basil.) This translates into usually only getting it when eating out. lol Glad your meal was a success! Those African Violets are beautiful. If you get some, I hope you keep us posted on how they do.
Mary Lou

Madame Là-bas said...

We have foody friends who enjoy most foods but can not eat cilantro. Supposedly there is a genetic reason. My grandma used to have a cart of violets by her window. We've been eating a bit more pasta lately. It's fine if we don't eat too much.

Anonymous said...

I love cilantro, but cannot handle cumin. It smells to me like bad body odor.

Stephen Andrew said...

One of my friends has done a few stints as the President of the Herb Society of America and swears that there is evidence that one is genetically programmed to like cilantro or not. I think she just says that because she hates cilantro! I absolutely love it. One of my favorite spring and summer salads is sliced cucumbers with thinly sliced shallots and a lot of chopped cilantro. Toss with a little red wine vinegar and sour cream. So good! Unless you hate cilantro.!

Cathy said...

The thing about cilantro is that about 20% of the population gets a soapy taste from it, it is a taste bud thing. So if you are one of those people, you will probably never like it.

Anonymous said...

Cilantro, Yes! In salads. Your pasta recipe sounds delicious too. Violets - my grandmother grew violets. She loved them. I have fond memories of seeing her care for her violets. She sat each pot in a dish of gravel. She said they liked moisture from below. She also started new plants by taking a single leaf, anchoring it down on violet soil, and in ten days a new small plant emerged. Some people say they are hard to grow. I have not tried. Your post has brought me back in time and now...I now want a violet plant too.

Dianne said...

I'm definitely averse to cilantro, although I wish I weren't - it not only tastes soapy itself in the dish where it's used, but just having a taste of it manages to spoil the rest of the dinner too :( But it's such a beautiful colour - lovely to see that you make use of every bit of it that you can!

Lorrie said...

I love it, my husband hates it. I sometimes chop up a bit and serve it on the side for salads and mexican dishes. Yummy!

Julie said...

Another 50-50 household. I love it, he doesn't.

You've triggered memories with the African Violets. Everyone had them and they were so inexpensive to buy. Time for some more. I used to line 3 or 5 small ones down the centre of the dinner table. Usually done in two colours. A simple centrepiece that lasted for ages.

Suzanne Bruno said...

Try fresh cilantro on a tuna fish sandwich, it is delicious!

Susan said...

I don't like cilantro but my husband loves it! He buys masses at the grocery store and washes it and air dries on a kitchen towel carefully. I have a herb garden and used to grow it for him but could not keep up with his demand! To me, it does not taste soapy but there is something about the taste that makes me recoil. I also do not like licorice and I have heard that if you do not like one, you will not like the other.

Janet said...

Like Julia Child, I cannot abide cilantro. I find it tastes soapy, and apparently the aroma of cilantro is created by aldehydes like those that are found in soap and some bugs. The word cilantro derives from the Greek word for bedbug. In the past the plant's aroma was likened to the smell of bug-infested bed linen.

Some researchers believe that the primal dislike for cilantro is a form of protection against something that could be poisonous. Supposedly it is possible to override the visceral hatred of cilantro by eating heaps of it, but why anyone would do that is beyond me.

La Contessa said...

I LOVE IT!
ITALIAN HUBBY cannot stand it!!!!!
He makes the PESTO in this household so NO cilantro version here........I will have to POP up to your house to try!!!!!!

Lori said...

I am Italian also and cannot stand the taste. What I find so interesting is that it is literally in so much food when you eat out and with half the population abhorring the flavor they continue to offer so many dishes with it. I continually ask politely for them to leave it off and often they can but I do so wish it was more of an "add on" like say parmesan cheese or cracked pepper.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I love basil too!
I purchased one African Violet and have placed it on the window sill above my kitchen sink...will report back on its health in awhile.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

African Violets have been house plants for years...Mother had quite a few when we were growing up. Your grandmothers' cart sounds like a fun way to display them.
I know that pasta is a higher WW meal...just once in awhile I like to have some.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I use cumin spice when I make chili con carne!!!
It does have a distinct aroma...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I must look into this genetic component...sounds very odd but it may explain why there are so many who despise it!
Your cucumber salad sounds tasty!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

EW...no if I got a soap taste I would not be inclined to eat it either!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The violets are really inexpensive right now...I found them for $3.99 and could have purchased a bunch but thought I had better see if the cats would leave them alone...they don't bother with my orchids but they love most other plants.
Propagating the violets sounds easy...we must try this!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It would appear that there is a genetic reason why people don't like cilantro...I am going to go online and see what I find...you better stay away from it Dianne!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I pop it on top of chili con carne...and have sprinkled it on salad too.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The violets are selling for under $5 each in most flower shops...quite cheerful and a variety of colours to choose from...I bought one so far and may go back for a few more.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The idea using them as a centrepiece is one that I may steal !

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Thank you Suzanne...I will try that.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Wow your husband sounds like a serious cilantro fan!
I also like good quality black liquorice...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh I would not like to think or associate cilantro with bed bugs! Yuck!
I also believe in moderation...no binge eating of cilantro for this Hostess!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I love basil pesto...MR. HB does NOT!
It would appear that many couples are a 50/50 split on cilantro.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I have not noticed that it is used a lot in restaurants...Mexican yes but generally it has not popped up on my radar...having said that I don't dine out all that much.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

This really makes my mouth water...it looks delicious!

No Sacrifice Bags said...

I absolutely abhor cilantro, and so does my husband. I first tasted cilantro at a Thai restaurant and couldn't eat my dinner.
I had no idea it was a genetic thing so this is interesting to research.