Including cilantro in a meal is a great way to add flavor to a dish or beverage without adding extra calories, fat or sodium.
Did you know that cilantro is a good source of antioxidants? Using cilantro to flavor food may encourage people to use less salt and reduce their sodium intake.
Preparation and Uses
Cilantro is a tender herb that has gentle leaves. These are best to add either raw or near the end of the cooking process. This helps them maintain their flavor and texture. Cilantro is relatively easy to grow and can thrive in small pots on a sunny windowsill, making it a sustainable, flavorful herb. Watters Garden Center in Prescott has cilantro plants that would work perfectly in your home kitchen window.
Including cilantro in a meal is a great way to add flavor to a dish or beverage without adding extra calories, fat or sodium. Yes, that is correct. Beverages include water, pineapple juice and tomato juice (bloody Mary).
When preparing cilantro, separate the leaves from the stems and only use the leaves. Use a sharp knife or herb shears and cut them gently. Cutting with a dull knife or over chopping them will bruise the herb, and much of the flavor will end up on the cutting board surface.
Cilantro pairs well with many dishes, especially Mexican and Thai meals. It also works well with dishes that contain beans, cheese, eggs and fish. The herb is also great with creamy vegetable dips and as a topping or garnish for soups and salads.
People use cilantro as a flavorful addition to soups, salads, curries and other dishes. In the United States, cilantro refers to the leaves, and coriander refers to the seeds. Its nutritional content may provide a range of health benefits.
Preserving Cilantro
Preserving cilantro in the refrigerator is the simplest way to keep the herbs fresh and it takes only minutes. The combination of cool temperature and water prevents the leaves from getting soft and discolored too soon. Avoid storing cilantro on the countertop or in a sealed container in the fridge to prevent the leaves from wilting and getting soggy.
It’s not a good idea to store cilantro on the kitchen counter because these herbs only last two to four hours at room temperature.
Placing them in the refrigerator keeps them fresh for up to 10 days, and storing cilantro in the freezer prolongs its shelf life up to six months. Cilantro stored in olive oil lasts up to one month in the refrigerator.
I encourage you to experiment with cilantro in your own recipes, as it is a versatile herb that makes a delicious addition to many meals.
Goods from the Garden, Catering & Events uses a wide variety of herbs and spices in our recipes.
Please enjoy the following recipe, Cilantro-Walnut Pesto. Lovely for bread, crackers and lavash. It’s also great with vegetables, seafood and pasta. QCBN
By Debbie Maranville
Debbie Maranville is the co-owner and culinary specialist at Goods from the Garden, Catering & Events.
Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
Ingredients:
- 1 cup walnut halves
- ½ teaspoon minced or crushed garlic
- 1 cup firmly packed cilantro (leaves and smaller stems)
- Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Place the walnuts in a blender or the small bowl of a food processor and grind to a coarse meal.
- Add the garlic, cilantro and salt, and continue to run the machine until it becomes a uniform green paste (some light walnut texture is fine).
- Run the machine while you drizzle in the oil. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until use.
Leave a Reply