Allergen note
Cilantro, the leafy part of the coriander plant, is not a common allergen, though rare reactions occur, sometimes in people sensitive to celery, carrot or related plants. Offer a small amount mixed into a familiar food the first time.
How to serve
From 6 months, stir finely chopped cilantro into mashed avocado, beans, lentils or yogurt. From 9 months, add it to soft fish cakes, rice or scrambled eggs, and from 12 months share mild family curries, soups or bean tacos. Some people find its taste soapy, so try again if your baby refuses it.
Preparation
Swish the bunch in a bowl of cold water, rinse under running water and pat dry, discarding wilted leaves and tough stems. Chop the leaves and tender stems very finely, then add them raw to cooled food or stir them in at the end of cooking to keep the fresh flavor.
Texture and choking risk
Whole sprigs and large leaves can stick to the roof of the mouth or the throat and cause gagging. Chop cilantro finely and mix it into moist foods rather than offering sprigs, and keep your baby seated upright and supervised during meals.
Starting ages are typical guidance for healthy, full-term babies who show signs of readiness. Your paediatrician may advise differently, especially where there is a family history of allergy.
Track first tastes and reactions
Log when your child first tries cilantro, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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