But, get this – this guacamole has cilantro in it! As noted above, cilantro is potent. I am a big fan of guacamole and avocados in general. I've read that you can substitute Italian flat leaf parsley for cilantro but I'm seeing more and more recipes that call for cilantro where the cilantro seems to be the main flavoring ingredient/herb. Absolutely, yes. This switch can work acceptably for tomato soup, for example, but not so much for a Mexican or Thai recipe that depends on cilantro… Close. But, you won’t know; trust me! When I make guac I use a little bit of salsa (draned it if has a lot of liquid in it), or for your 2 avacados, I would add maybe 1/2 or 1 roma tomatos seeded and diced small, 1/4 onion red or white diced small, 1 small clove garlic diced small, 1/2 (more or less depending on the amount of heat you like) jalapeno seeded and diced small. Although the main ingredient in this guacamole recipe is avocado, a variety of other ingredients can be used to liven it up or tone it down. Lots of dishes can be made without it, and you’ll never know what you’re missing. Whether you are looking for a milder flavor or have simply run out, you may need a cilantro substitute at some point. Mince it up before mixing it in. And in some cases, you can just omit the cilantro completely, especially if it is only being used as a garnish. This is due to natural aldehydes in cilantro (naturally occurring organic compounds that contributes to flavor) . OR - substituteflat-leaf parsley which is related but lacks that "soapy" flavor loved (or hated) by many. You see, I’m not sure if I hate the taste of fresh cilantro or the smell of it more. There’s no need to add more seasonings because the mix already came very well seasoned. Posted by u/[deleted] 4 years ago. I'll definitely be doing some experiments in the near future. The substitute in question is made using a recipe nearly identical to traditional guac with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice but substitutes tender Mexican squash—sometimes referred to as Mexican zucchini or calabacitas (“little pumpkins”)—for increasingly pricey avocado. Rather than subject myself to the soapy taste of fresh cilantro, I have personally stumbled upon a way to get around it. I have several friends with the soap gene (cilantro tastes like soap to them), my father's allergic (it gives him a headache) and because of a lifetime of avoiding the stuff, I find cilantro overwhelming in just about everything. For maximum flavor, add the herbs to the dish just before serving it. It’s honestly not the end of the world if you can’t stand cilantro. Celery Leaf Although celery leaves aren't ofen used as seasonings, they can act in place of cilantro in many recipes. No, really. This Cilantro-Lime Crema recipe (used as a topping for chili) will still taste great as a Lime Crema.