The presence of greens on the table all year round brings benefits to the body. Cilantro is a unique spice that has found applications in various fields. There is even a belief about its beneficial effect on the air in the room and the appearance of a person, as well as the ability to attract luck and money. Try to prepare it for the winter in various ways.
Cilantro is the herbaceous part of the plant (coriandrum sativum). It is an annual of the umbrella family, which is used in medicine, cooking and cosmetology. Housewives harvest it for the winter in various ways. Consider several options for preserving the herb at home.
How to dry cilantro at home
The easiest and most straightforward way is this. Step by step, the process of this preparation looks like this.
- Rinse the harvested cilantro thoroughly in a large amount of water, spread on a napkin to remove all moisture.
- Cut the dried bunches of grass into medium segments and spread out on paper (parchment). Leave to dry for a few days, stir occasionally.
- Put the finished spice in canvas bags or a glass jar. Put away in a cool storage place, preferably in a closed cabinet.
A little trick - you can not cut the bunches of cilantro, but dry it naturally, hanging it by the roots and covering it with gauze. In this case, more valuable substances will be retained.
The second option for quick drying is to prepare from top to bottom in or using an electric dryer. The cooking time is shortened, but it is very difficult to set the temperature of the appliances correctly. There is a chance to dry out cilantro and ruin stocks. The drying steps will be as follows:
- Rinse abundantly, dry from moisture, cut into large pieces.
- Arrange on a pallet or silicone sheet, place in an oven / dryer for 4-5 hours at 40 degrees.
- Transfer the finished product to storage containers and store in a dark place.
How to freeze cilantro at home
This method also has several options, and the hostess chooses the freezing method depending on the size of the refrigerating chamber and dishes. There is only one difference from drying - it is necessary to freeze chopped grass, since whole bundles are inconvenient to store and use.
Classic version
This method is the easiest and most intuitive. You will need plastic bags or plastic containers, a knife, a board, herbs.
- Wash cilantro, remove all sand and debris.
- Cut / pluck by hand, fold into a bag and twist tightly into a tube. The less air, the longer it will last and the more convenient it is to pour the required amount. If there is a container, then stack the cilantro very tightly.
- Put in the freezer, take as needed. It is better to choose small bags / containers, so as not to take out the entire workpiece once again.
The original version of freezing
- Rinse, dry cilantro from water, cut into small pieces, mix with vegetable or butter. Additional spices can be added immediately if desired.
- Divide the mixture into molds or twist into a sausage on foil. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours to set.
- Then transfer it to a container for further storage, put it in the freezer and be sure to attach a sheet with the date of freezing.
Salting and pickling
These are two more variations on how you can save cilantro for the winter. In any case, you must first prepare the greens. Rinse, dry and cut into pieces.
- sprinkle the layers with salt at the rate of 200 grams per 1000 grams of cilantro and tamp tightly until liquid appears. Then put everything in jars and put in the refrigerator.
For the marinade, take water, vinegar, salt in a ratio of 0.5 l-1 tbsp. l-1 tsp This amount is enough for three 500 ml cans. Put the greens in a container, pour the marinade and stand on the table for a couple of hours. Pour 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil on top and remove on the top shelf in the cold.
Application, useful properties and harm of cilantro
In medicine, it is used as an antiseptic and expectorant for acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. Also, it is part of the drug prescribed for glaucoma and conjunctivitis. Greens serve to purify indoor air, and a decoction from it - to improve the condition of the skin. By including the spice in the diet, you can normalize the gastrointestinal tract, improve appetite, normalize sleep and blood pressure.
In cooking, it is used as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes. Added to soups, salads and pastries. In the Caucasus, it is considered a national seasoning, often consumed fresh or included in the marinade for kebabs. It has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body and stabilizes the metabolism.
Essential oil is often used in cosmetology to impart a spicy, woody scent to perfumes and soaps. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Despite all the useful qualities, it is not recommended to use cilantro for people with chronic heart disease, with stomach and duodenal ulcers (especially in the acute stage), diabetes mellitus and a tendency to thrombosis. In addition, excessive use of the herb can weaken the potency in men and cause an imbalance in the menstrual cycle in women.
Calorie content
In the green part of the plant, it is 25 kcal per 100 gram portion. Usually, the spice is added in small quantities to the finished dish, so the calories will be negligible. The crushed seed powder is much higher in calories and is 215 kcal per 100 g of product. In terms of energy value, the product contains: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and water in the following proportion: 2-0, 6-2-2, 9-93. In addition, a large amount of B vitamins, vitamin K, macro and microelements, fatty acids, essential oils and other valuable substances are included.
Delicious Cilantro Sauce Recipe
- cilantro - 300 g;
- garlic - 3 cloves;
- green onions - 100 g;
- hot pepper - 1 pc.;
- salt, sugar - 1 tsp each.
Step by step:
- Wash greens, cut into large pieces. Cut the garlic into pieces.
- Place all ingredients in a blender bowl and blend until smooth.
- Add spices, salt, stir and place in a gravy boat. Serve with meat, poultry, fish and on toast for the first course.
"Pesto" with cilantro
You will need the following components:
- cilantro - 350 g;
- fried almonds - 70 g;
- cheese - 200 g;
- garlic - 5 cloves;
- lime - 1 pc.;
- olive oil - 50 ml.
Step by step guide:
- Rinse the grass from the sand, shake off excess water, cut into medium pieces (it is better to pick it with your hands).
- Grind the almonds with a blender, add the garlic and repeat the procedure.
- Add cilantro in portions and continue to grind.
- Put the mixture in a bowl, squeeze out the lime juice, add the cheese and butter, stir until smooth.
- Transfer to a convenient container, garnish with a basil or mint leaf.
It goes well with pasta, salads. Bon Appetit!
