Coriander is an aromatic herb, similar to parsley, used in many dishes of ethnic cuisine. It has a strong aroma and adds a fresh and sweet note to vegetables, fruit and sauces. In order to give a sauce all its flavor, coriander needs a very specific cut. By chopping coriander properly, your dishes will benefit from the scent and aromatic flavor of this fabulous herb.
Steps
Step 1. Take a medium sized bowl and fill it with cold water
Dip the cilantro in the water. In this way, any earth residues will detach from the leaves.
Step 2. Place the cilantro in a colander
Open the cold water tap and place the cilantro under the stream of water.
Step 3. Rinse the cilantro carefully
Move it under running water. Doing so will help remove dirt particles trapped between the leaves.
Step 4. Shake the strainer carefully to get rid of any residual water
Arrange the cilantro on a large sheet of absorbent paper. With the paper, dab any excess water on the leaves.
Step 5. Look for any loose or discolored leaves
Remove them from the coriander branch and throw them in the organic waste (alternatively use them for compost).
Step 6. Place a cutting board on the kitchen counter
You can store a wet cloth under the cutting board to add more friction when cutting.
Step 7. Remove the long stems from the cilantro
The stems are placed at the base of the coriander branches. They usually extend about 10-13cm from the base of the leaves. The stems will also add extra flavor to your soups and sauces. Use a few stems for the current recipe and save the others for your next preparations.
Step 8. Divide the cilantro bunch in half, using the center as a guideline
Most of the leaves are located at the top of the branches. If you only need to use a small amount of cilantro, separate the bunch into two parts.
Step 9. Store the excess cilantro in a food bag (without removing the stems) and place it in the refrigerator
It will keep fresh for up to a week.
Step 10. Fold the top of the bunch, where most of the cilantro leaves are located, in half and place it on the cutting board
Using a rocking motion, chop the coriander. When done, start cutting again to make sure all the cilantro leaves are chopped. After chopping it, place the cilantro in a bowl.
