Do you have to remove the stems from cilantro?

"When using fresh cilantro, do I need to remove every bit of the stems?"

I get this question a lot and the answer is no. Remove stems from herbs if they have a woody or otherwise unpleasant texture and/or if they taste different from the leaves. Most of the time, that means you can leave a little of the stem near the leaves on with no adverse affect. The farther away from the leaves you get, the more likely it is that the stem will be fibrous. If you are ever unsure, simply taste the stem and decide yourself.

For more ways to use cilantro, see our collection of Cilantro Recipes and see my previous post, What's the Best Way to Chop Fresh Herbs?

Recipe: Suadero Tacos with Serrano-Cilantro Salsa