20 Cilantro Recipes For Cinco de Mayo and Beyond April 22, 2017
Step 1: Feast your eyes on these swoon-worthy cilantro recipes. Step 2: Have a blast cooking up a storm on Cinco de Mayo. Step 3: Convert everyone you know onto team cilantro and keep the feast going alllllll year long.
As if receiving issue 3 of the Fresh Life wasn’t enough, we’re also including a special gift in your box next week: extra cilantro! Because while there’s a time and a place for restaurants and takeout, we’re challenging you to make a Cinco de Mayo #ReservationIN instead. Skip the coat check, long bathroom lines, and minuscule, you can’t be serious, portions. Instead, have fun cooking at home on May 5 and beyond with the help of these deliciously simple cilantro recipes. It’s official: your home is about to become the best restaurant in town.
1. Peppy Pepper Fajitas with a Black Bean Mash and Lime Crema on Spinach Tortillas
Because too many peppers is never a bad thing, especially when paired with black beans and cilantro.
2. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Crema
Not many tacos can boast that they’re rich in Vitamin A, but these stunners are full of it thanks to tender roasted cubes of sweet potato.
3. Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas with Sweet Peppers, Caramelized Onion, and Pico de Gallo
If you thought sweet-and-savory combos were delicious, prepare to be blown away by this creamy cheese and pineapple dream-come-true.
4. Smoky Beef Tacos with Peppers, Guacamole, and Radish
Cumin-scented beef + creamy guacamole + crisp radish + fragrant cilantro and lime… say no more. We’re sold.
5. Feisty Fiesta Fish Tacos with Grapefruit, Avocado, and Cabbage Slaw
Cilantro and grapefruit make for a surprisingly delicious duo.
6. Southwestern Superfood Jumble with Black Beans and Quinoa
Quinoa may be native to the area around Peru, but here, we’re pairing it with a swirl of Southwestern flavors: black beans, corn, jalapeño, pepitas, and the unsung hero of the show… cilantro.
7. Rapid Crispy Shrimp Tacos with Crunchy Red Cabbage Slaw
Tender shrimp, snappy red cabbage slaw, and fresh cilantro get tucked inside warm tortillas for plenty of crunch as you munch—plus lots of tangy flavor, too.
8. Oven-Roasted Cauliflower with Tunisian-Spiced Yogurt over Cumin-Scented Rice
Creamy white cauliflower takes center stage in this plant-powered dish, which comes equipped with fragrant, cumin-scented rice, spiced yogurt, fresh cilantro, and crunchy cashews.
9. Black Bean Chili with Southwestern Spices
No chili is complete without a generous dollop of sour cream, a few slices of avocado, and a sprinkling of cilantro.
10. Eggs-In-A-Hole Skillet with Chickpeas and Swiss Chard
Chickpeas meet Swiss chard meet eggs meet cilantro meet toasted bread to soak up all the deliciousness. The result? Brunch nirvana.
11. Warming Cauliflower and Lentil Dal with Green Beans and Toasted Naan Flatbreads
We’re simmering lentils with warm curry powder and folding in some green beans, cauliflower, and cilantro for plenty of veggie might.
12. Slammin’ Lemon Salmon with Warm Butter Bean and Zucchini Salad
Brain-boosting salmon gets a kick of color thanks to crisp snap peas, zucchini, and cilantro.
13. Shrimp Banh Mi Burger with Sriracha Mayo and Carrot Fries
Banh mi is a popular Vietnamese sandwich with a French flair. It’s traditionally made with crusty baguette, a hefty chunk of meat, pickled veggies, and spicy condiments. Our chefs didn’t mess with the veggies, herbs, or condiments, but they did jazz things up with buttery brioche and shrimp.
14. Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with Rice Pilaf, Roasted Zucchini, and Cilantro
Our chefs combined Ethiopian berbere spice with garlic and yogurt for a tangy marinade that becomes ever-so-slightly charred under the broiler. Then, they paired it with herby rice and roasted zucchini.
15. Turkish Lamb Meatballs with Herby Couscous
Give your meatballs a Middle Eastern twist with allspice, cumin, sweet parsnips, fluffy couscous, and a pop of green cilantro.
16. Blackened Tilapia with Crispy Potatoes and Blistered Veggies
Blackening flaky fish like tilapia with a potent mix of spices is the best way to deliver all the flavor without batter frying. In this recipe, it rests on top of a colorful jumble of herby veggies and potatoes.
17. Indian-Inspired Eggplant with Tandoori-Spiced Basmati Rice and Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
Ordinary Greek yogurt is good, but cilantro-spiked Greek yogurt is GREAT.
18. Serrano Steak with Mango Slaw and Cilantro-Lime Rice
Cilantro rice is the perfect base to soak up all the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors in this recipe.
19. Stuffed Squash Boats with Mushrooms, Quinoa, and Golden Raisins
Why dirty an extra bowl when you can use the squash itself?
20. Chickpea Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice, Yogurt, and Cilantro
This traditional Indian dish is famous for a good reason. Nutty chickpeas are stewed in a fragrant tomato sauce, which is supported by fluffy basmati rice and topped with cool yogurt and bright cilantro. It just works.
Still unsure about whether to go out for dinner or stay in? We totally get it. In fact, we can probably guess what thoughts are going through your mind right about now.