A Complete Guide To Using Cilantro In Your Cocktails
The internet seems to be divided when it comes to using herbs in cocktails. Some cocktail enthusiasts believe in following orthodox rules in making cocktails. This means that the mixture of alcohol and herbs should be avoided at any cost. On the other hand, a lot of people who are experimenting with cocktails are open to the idea of using cilantro in their cocktails. Cilantro is known by different names in different parts of the world. In most Asian countries, it is called coriander whereas in the North American and South American countries, it is known by the name of cilantro. Cilantro also has many health properties and numerous powerful antioxidants.
If you think that cilantro can be only used for garnishing your vegetable stews or curries then you are surely undermining the flavours of cilantro. We generally add mint leaves to our cocktails and mocktails for that refreshing flavour. But do you know that replacing your traditional mint leaves with cilantro can be a gateway to a whole new world of cocktail recipes? Unlike many herbs, cilantro adds subtle flavours to your cocktail. Cilantro compliments tequila, gin, whisky and other types of alcohol very well. You can even think of adding some other spices and herbs like chillies to your cocktail.
Coriander adds a very tropical and oriental touch to your cocktails. You can try making coriander-based cocktails for your dinner parties as these cocktails go with heavy main courses well. Let us now look at some interesting coriander/cilantro cocktail recipes that you can easily make at home by using some simple ingredients.
- Cilantro Mojito
This is a very refreshing drink that is made by using some cilantro leaves, club soda, Captain Morgan Rum, and lime juice. All these ingredients are very refreshing on their own and when mixed they make the perfect mojito that you can have for your dinner parties. You can also try making the mocktail version of it by replacing your Captain Morgan Rum with something else. Let's look at the list of the ingredients.
Ingredients
- 6-8 cilantro leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoon cilantro simple syrup
- 44 ml of Captain Morgan Rum
- ½ cup club soda
- 1 lime
To make the cocktail combine your cilantro syrup and cilantro leaves in the bottom of your cocktail glass. Now add your Captain Morgan Rum along with the lime juice of one lime. Now add some ice to the mixture and garnish everything with some lemon wedges. You can also add some pineapple slices to the mixture. If you like the flavour of pineapple. The citrusy flavour of pineapple also enhances the overall taste of the mojito.
- Cucumber Cilantro Cooler
The freshness of cucumber compliments the revitalising flavour of cilantro well. You can also add some green chillies to your cooler for that extra flavour. This is a very mature drink with strong flavours and it should be only made for people who can handle such strong flavours. To make this cucumber cilantro cooler at home here are the ingredients that you need.
Ingredients
- ½ chopped cucumber
- ⅓ lime juice
- 50 ml Ketel one vodka
- 6 cilantro leaves
- Green chillies
Take your cocktail mixer and add all the ingredients one by one. Mix everything well and finish off by adding your lemon juice in the end. To add some sweetness to the drink you can also use some honey or simple sugar syrup. Shake everything well for at least 20 seconds before pouring the mixture into your cocktail glass. Garnish your cocktails with some cilantro leaves and a wheel of cucumber.
- Jalapeno Cilantro Margarita
This drink is for people who want to go crazy with their cocktails and love Mexican flavours. It has very strong flavours and a pungent smell. Anyone who likes having spicy cocktails will enjoy this very much, and for the ones who have never had spicy cocktails before, this can be a pleasant surprise. This is the list of some ingredients you need to make this cocktail recipe. These are the ingredients you need to make the Jalapeño Cilantro Margarita.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar syrup
- 4 slices Jalapeño
- 22 ml Tequila
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- A slice of lime
- 1 tbsp lime juice
To make this cocktail, you need to add 1 cup of water with one cup of sugar syrup in a saucepan and bring everything to a slow boil. Now when you see the mixture boiling, add cilantro leaves to your water and sugar syrup mixture. turn off the heat and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Take a cocktail shaker full of ice and add half a tablespoon of lemon juice and cilantro syrup to your mixture. Now add your tequila and four slices of jalapeños to the mixture. Shake everything well and pour it into the glass. Garnish everything with cilantro leaves.
These are some sizzling cocktail recipes that you can make with the help of cilantro leaves. Cilantro leaves add a very subtle but flavourful touch to your cocktails. Trying cilantro can be a very exciting experience if you have never added them before to your cocktails.
