10 Minute DIY Coriander Powder

Make freshly ground coriander spice powder at home in 10 minutes! Made from ground coriander seeds, making this aromatic dhania powder at home will level up your Indian dishes and save you some money!

Coriander plays a big role in Indian cuisine. It is a staple Indian spice and is even used fresh as an herb, cilantro, in many dishes. Whole coriander seeds are often used in Indian pickle recipes.

How do you make coriander seed powder? Coriander spice powder is made by dry roasting whole coriander seeds, cooling them and then grinding in a spice grinder, blender or using a pestle and mortar.

Why make ground coriander powder at home?

Making your own ground spice and generally other spices freshly ground at home literally levels up the taste of your dishes.

It is a key differentiator in home cooking.  Ready made ground spices are sitting on the shelf for some time and lose their flavor. According to Bon Appetit, “You shouldn’t keep ground spices for more than three months and whole spices for more than eight to ten.”

While, I’m definitely guilty of not following that timeline very strictly, I do regularly grind Indian spices and Indian spice blends in batches a few times a year.

Making this at home you can also ensure there are no added fillers are other additives.

About Dhania Powder

In Hindi, coriander is dhaniya or dhania powder. While it is easily found in Indian grocery stores, making the ground coriander powder at home provides extra flavor to your meals.  Fresh spices always pack a punch.

This is an essential spice in my masala dabba and used very often in Indian cooking and is an ingredient in spice mixes such as garam masala powder.  Whole coriander seeds are roasted, cooled then ground. Very often it is kept as a spice blend with cumin powder (from cumin seeds), referred to as dhaniya jeera or dhanu jeeru. You can also find it in Indian stores in this spice blend form.

• Whole coriander seeds taste: warm, citrus notes, hints of lemon pepper
• Ground coriander powder taste: Deeper/smoky notes than coriander (above) as they are roasted and ground

I’ve included both ground and whole coriander and cumin because I keep both in my cabinet and they each serve different purposes/ are used differently.

Coriander is also a popular spice to use in Mexican, Middle Eastern and Latin cuisines. It is a versatile spice!

Making the Spice Powder

There are two ways to make it:

1. Dry roast and grind

First, place a heavy bottomed pan on low-medium heat. 

Then, add the whole coriander seeds to the pan.  Toast the spice for 4-5 minutes, mixing intermittently.

You don’t want to let them sit for too long as they can burn easily.

Once you start to see the seeds begin to darken a bit and smell a nutty aroma, the seeds are ready!

Let them cool completely to room temperature.  Then, you can grind the seeds using a variety of options:

• Spice grinder
• Coffee grinder
• Mortar & pestle
• Nutribullet ( I have used it!)

Your freshly homemade ground coriander spice powder is ready!

2. Ground seeds (not roasted)

Simply grind into a fine powder and store!

Should coriander be roasted before grinding?

It is up to your personal preference whether coriander should be roasted before grinding and coriander powder can be used either way.  Lightly toasting the coriander seeds prior to grinding to make a powder.  This helps to release oils and makes the dhaniya powder more flavorful.  It also removes any moisture which allows a longer shelf life.

Others may prefer to just grind the seeds to make powder.  The powder will be cooked during the cooking process, so it is not necessary.

Storing

Store coriander powder in an airtight container for up to three months.  I like to operate on a quarterly basis and make small batches to last me at least 3 months and then I will grind a fresh batch.

What can I use it in?

Indian food very often uses this powder.  You can check out the recipe index and I’m sure you will find many dishes that you use this homemade coriander powder recipe for!

Is coriander the same as cilantro?

Coriander comes from a plant called cilantro in the United States and called coriander across the world.  In the US, cilantro refers to the green leaves of the cilantro plant and coriander refers to the coriander seeds which are dried seeds from the green plant.

Coriander powder does not taste like cilantro which it comes from. It also helps provide a little thickness. Cilantro powder is made from fresh coriander leaves.