Coriander for Babies: When and How to Use It
Two flavors, one plant. The fresh leaf (cilantro) brightens dishes and the ground seed warms them, and your baby gets to try both.
- When to introduce
- Around 6 months
- Common allergen?
- No
- Flavor
- Fresh and citrusy (leaf); warm and citrusy (seed)
- How to use
- Chopped leaf or ground seed
When can babies have coriander?
Coriander is a two for one. The leaf, called cilantro in the US, and the ground seed come from the same plant, so introducing coriander means introducing both. It is a global staple, at home in kitchens from Mexico to Thailand to India.
How to use coriander in baby food
Is coriander safe for babies?
Coriander, both the fresh leaf and the ground seed, is safe in cooking amounts from around 6 months. Chop fresh cilantro small so it is easy to manage, and stir ground coriander into food rather than sprinkling it loose on a spoon. As with all cooking for babies under 1, keep salt and added sugar out. Coriander is not a common allergen. One fun aside: to some people cilantro tastes soapy, which is partly genetic, so your baby's verdict is entirely their own.
Bold flavors early are how you raise an adventurous eater. Yummy Yucky keeps track of the foods and flavors your baby has met, so you can keep widening the menu with confidence.
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Storage
Keep fresh cilantro in the fridge and use it within a few days; store ground coriander seed in an airtight jar away from heat and light.
Frequently asked questions
When can babies have coriander?
Around 6 months, both the fresh cilantro leaf and the ground seed, in the amounts used in cooking.
Are cilantro and coriander the same?
They come from the same plant. In the US, the leaf is called cilantro and the ground seed is called coriander.
What if my baby makes a face at cilantro?
To some people cilantro tastes soapy, which is partly genetic. Your baby may love it or not, and that is their own verdict to make.
What goes well with coriander?
Lentils, rice, and carrot are great starting points, and it fits naturally into curries and beans.
← All baby-safe spices · The full spices & herbs guide
Track it in Yummy Yucky
Log first tries, get nudged through the 3-day allergen watch, and keep every bite in one place you can share with your pediatrician.
Start tracking for freeHow we write these: from widely published pediatric guidance (AAP, NIAID 2017 guidelines, the LEAP study), with sources cited on every page. Pending review by a pediatric professional.
This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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