It's still chilly outside as the sun starts to shift southward... stretching its stay longer each day.
Winter comfort food slowly disappearing from our dinner table…as spring-summer quick easy meal, will be taking the centre piece.

And we had our first spring dinner ~ Pan fried sesame-coated salmon served with coriander relish served with garlic bread.



...and the coriander relish is so ... so... good.

Coriander leaves may not be a choice for many, I know my mom didn't like it at all. I grew up without knowing how coriander leaves looks like let alone taste!

My first encounter with coriander leaves was in the late 80's. I was a student in UK.
I remembered wanting to cook beef soup and I was looking for Chinese celery in the Asian grocer nearby (I am very familiar with Chinese celery). Saw one whole crate full of green leafy herbs that look like what I was looking for! Great :D.

I picked up a bunch. Had a quick sniff, a passing thought ~ it sure smells odd!! ... perhaps the English soil makes my 'Chinese celery' smells different ;P.

Got home, washed the leafy bunch...tore a bit of the leaf and taste...wow!!! This is definitely not the 'Chinese Celery' that I know ;(. pbtth... the whole bunch into the bin :(.

Honestly, I can't recall when I was lovestruck by coriander leaves. Perhaps when I was going out with my 'then boy-friend now hubby' ;P...

I do not spit out coriander leaves anymore... I embraced the whole bunch with love and affection :D
That is why, I tell you earlier that this relish is so... so ...good :D

pssst....I would add 1 or 2 green chillies to be blended with coriander to give the relish an extra kick or two.