Chervil and coriander: Seemingly confusingly similar - at least for laypeople. So that you know in the future whether it is chervil or coriander, here are the characteristics of both herbs in comparison.
External features in comparison
Similar to chervil and parsley, chervil and coriander are confused with each other. But this difference catches the eye: the leaves of the chervil are pinnate and are reminiscent of the ferns in the forest. Coriander leaves have three lobes and the leaf edge with the indentations is rounded but not pointed - in contrast to chervil.
What makes these two herbs difficult to tell apart is in their flowers. If you've grown coriander and chervil and wait until they flower, you'll see brilliant white umbel flowers on both herbs.
The seeds of the two are easy to distinguish. While coriander seeds are spherical and light brown, chervil seeds are black and elongated. Furthermore, the seeds of coriander germinate in the dark and the seeds of chervil germinate in the light.
Just a matter of taste…
There are many people who don't like cilantro. For some, it already smells repulsive. Others, on the other hand, love its musky, lemony smell. Chervil smells different. Its smell can be described as fennel-aniseed and sweet. The tastes of the two kitchen herbs are also different and their smell is very similar.
Usage Differences
Coriander is known for both its herb and seeds used to flavor food. Asian cuisine is unimaginable without it. It enriches vegetable and rice dishes, sauces and salads. In addition to flavoring food, it is used to flush heavy metals out of the brain because it can cross the blood-brain barrier.
From the chervil, the herb is mainly used in the kitchen in fresh form or in a form that has been thawed again after freezing. It is used, among other things, to season:
- sauces
- stew
- eggs
- braised tomatoes
- soups
- vegetable dishes
- Meat like lamb and poultry
tips and tricks
Both herbs should not be dried after harvesting, but rather frozen or used immediately. Otherwise they lose a lot of flavor.
KKF