Overview
About coriander
Coriander here means the dried seed, the warm, citrusy spice ground into curry powder, garam masala and pickling blends, not the fresh leaf sold as cilantro.
As a spice it is reassuringly low-trigger: low in salicylates, low histamine and low FODMAP, so a normal culinary pinch rarely sets off intolerance symptoms. Its one real flag is elimination diets, where seed spices like coriander are paused during a strict AIP reset.
Sensitivities
How coriander scores
Watch for
What trips people up
- Not the same as the fresh leaf: cilantro (coriander leaves) is what the soapy-taste and salicylate debates are about, while the dried seed is milder and grades low on salicylates.
- Left out during an AIP elimination phase because it is a seed spice, even though it is otherwise clean, and it is usually one of the earliest reintroductions.
- Whole toasted seeds can feel gritty on a very sensitive gut in quantity, though the low-FODMAP grade means a normal seasoning amount is fine.
Diet fit
Where it fits
Swap ideas
More alternatives
FAQ
Common questions about coriander
Is coriander seed the same as cilantro?
No. Coriander seed is the dried fruit of the plant, a warm citrusy spice used in curries, sausages and pickling. Cilantro, sold in the UK as fresh coriander, is the green leaf of the same plant. They taste different, and on trigger data the seed grades lower on salicylates than the fresh leaf.
Is coriander seed high in salicylates?
No, dried coriander seed is graded low in salicylates, which is unusual for a spice. If you are salicylate-sensitive it is one of the safer warm spices to reach for, unlike cinnamon, cumin or paprika.
Can I have coriander seed on AIP?
Not during the strict elimination phase. Coriander seed is a seed-based spice, and all seed spices come out on autoimmune-protocol elimination. Because it is otherwise low-trigger it is typically one of the first reintroductions, and the fresh leaves (cilantro) are AIP-compliant in the meantime.
References
Read the background
Ratings reflect the Triggerbites ingredient database and may vary with portion size and preparation.