Coriander is a delicious herb found in many Asian, Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes. Its fresh and intense taste allows you to liven up almost any dish, but unfortunately it tends to wither quickly and, unlike other aromatic herbs, leaving it dry does not get a good result. However, if you know how to do it, you can keep it and make it last longer by freezing it. This article discusses different storage methods and also contains valuable tips on how to use cilantro once thawed.
Ingrediants
Ingredients for Freezing Coriander in a Bag
Fresh coriander
Ingredients for Freezing Coriander in Oil
- 80 ml of extra virgin olive oil
- 50-100 g of chopped cilantro
Ingredients for Freezing Coriander in Butter
- 1 stick of butter, left to soften at room temperature
- 1-3 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
- 1 finely chopped garlic clove (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
- 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional)
- Lime zest (optional)
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Making Coriander for Frozen
Step 1. Select a bunch of fresh cilantro
The leaves will wilt slightly when you freeze it, so it's important to choose it as fresh as possible. Look for a bunch that has leaves that are a nice, vibrant green color and a vital look. Forget any that appear withered, yellowed, or limp.
Step 2. Wash the cilantro in a bowl full of water
Move the leaves in the water by holding the bunch by the stems. Continue until the water becomes cloudy. Repeat the process several times with clean water until it remains transparent. You may have to empty and refill the bowl up to 2-3 times.
Step 3. Shake the cilantro to get rid of excess water
Keep holding it by the stems and give it a few good shakes. It is best to do this by standing over the sink so as not to splash the other surfaces in the kitchen.
Step 4. Pat it dry with kitchen paper
Arrange a few torn pieces of paper on the table and place the cilantro on top. Cover it with other sheets of absorbent paper, then press it (very gently); the paper will absorb any remaining water. Repeat with other dry tears until it's dry.
Step 5. You can blanch the coriander if you want
Just leave it immersed in the boiling water for 15-30 seconds, then you will have to dip it in ice water to cool it and stop cooking. Do not leave it in boiling water for more than half a minute, and after it has cooled, dry it carefully. Blanching it serves to preserve its beautiful bright color.
Method 2 of 5: Freeze Coriander in a Bag
Step 1. Decide if you prefer to freeze the whole bunch or just the leaves
In the second case, you will have to carefully detach them from the stems, which will eventually be discarded. Nothing prevents you from freezing it whole and then tearing the leaves you need at the time of use.
Step 2. If you want you can grease it with extra virgin olive oil
Since cilantro leaves are very delicate, it will protect them from the cold and prevent them from becoming soggy. All you have to do is put the coriander in a bowl and sprinkle it with a thin layer of oil (about a tablespoon or a teaspoon). The amount needed depends on the amount of coriander.
Step 3. Place the cilantro in a resealable bag designed for freezer storage
Try to distribute it evenly inside the bag. If you have decided to freeze it whole, try to position the stems and leaves so that they are as straight as possible. If it is a lot, it is best to divide it into 2 or more bags.
If you don't have such a bag at home, you can use two common food bags, as long as they are zipped, and put them one inside the other
Step 4. Let as much air out as possible before sealing the bag
Start by zipping it only partially, then press it gently to flatten it. After letting out the air, close the zip completely. Be careful not to damage the cilantro as you squeeze the bag.
Step 5. Write today's date on the bag with a permanent marker
If you have other herbs in your freezer, it is a wise idea to add the description of the contents as well, in this case "coriander".
Step 6. Place the wrapped cilantro in the freezer
Try to position it so that the leaves and / or stems are straight and level.
Method 3 of 5: Freeze Coriander in Oil
Step 1. First chop the cilantro coarsely
Arrange it on the cutting board and slice it into pieces about 2-3 cm wide. You can cut the whole twigs or just the leaves, the choice is yours. It doesn't have to be precision work, as you'll need to blend the cilantro later.
Step 2. Put the chopped cilantro in the blender
You can also use the food processor if you prefer.
Step 3. Add 80ml of extra virgin olive oil to every 50g of chopped coriander
If you want it to keep a more intense taste, you can increase the amount of coriander up to 100 g. If you feel that olive oil tastes too strong, you can replace it with a more delicate one, such as sunflower oil.
Step 4. Turn on the blender every few seconds
But first make sure the lid is securely attached. Keep blending until the oil turns green and the leaves appear chopped into small pieces. If you want the leaves to remain visible in the oil, be careful not to blend for too long.
Step 5. Transfer the oil and coriander mixture to an ice cube mold
Fill each space approximately ¾ of the capacity and no more, as the oil will tend to expand upon freezing.
Step 6. Place the mold in the freezer
Place it on a flat surface and check that it is stable. Let the oil and cilantro mixture freeze for a few hours or until the next day.
Step 7. Transfer the frozen cubes to a resealable bag suitable for storing food in the freezer
This way you can re-allocate the mold to its original use. If you don't have such a bag at home, you can use two common food bags and put them one inside the other.
Step 8. Write the current date on the bag with a permanent marker
If you have other herbs in your freezer, it is a wise idea to add the description of the contents as well, in this case "coriander".
Method 4 of 5: Freeze Coriander in Butter
Step 1. Chop the cilantro and mix it with the butter in a bowl
You will need to use one to three tablespoons of chopped cilantro for each stick of butter.
Step 2. Take the butter out of the refrigerator in time to allow it to soften at room temperature
It is certainly better to cut it into cubes too.
Step 3. You can add some other ingredients if you want
You can flavor the butter with coriander only or you can combine a few other elements to make the recipe even tastier. Here are some tips you can take inspiration from:
- A finely chopped clove of garlic;
- Salt and pepper to taste;
- Half a tablespoon of lime juice;
- Lime zest.
Step 4. Stir the ingredients in the bowl until they are perfectly blended
You can use a simple silicone spoon or kitchen spatula. Stir quickly to prevent the butter from melting. If you find it necessary, add more or increase the amount of chopped cilantro or other ingredients.
Step 5. Wrap the butter in parchment paper or foil
Transfer it to the paper with a spoon, placing it parallel to one of the edges. Try to shape it like a salami using a spoon or spatula, then wrap it with paper.
Step 6. Place the butter roll in the refrigerator
Place it on a plate with the free edge of the paper facing down so that it rests on top of it. Leave it in the refrigerator until it hardens.
Step 7. Once the butter is solid again, you can transfer it to the freezer
To avoid dirtying the freezer drawers, leave it wrapped in paper and seal it in a resealable bag suitable for storing food in the freezer or in a container such as Tupperware.
Step 8. Remember to write the date of preparation on the container or bag
It will help you remember to use it before it can go bad.
Method 5 of 5: Using Frozen Coriander
Step 1. Use it in a chutney or guacamole
If you have frozen it yourself, without oil or butter, you can tear off the leaves you need and use them to make guacamole sauce or a delicious coriander chutney. There is no need to let it defrost.
Step 2. Use the cilantro that you have preserved in the oil to add flavor to a soup, sauce or other cooked preparation
You can also use it to enrich a salad dressing. Since the mixture already contains the oil, you will need to change the doses required by the recipe. Each individual cube will contain about a tablespoon of oil.
Step 3. Let the coriander flavored butter thaw at room temperature before using
It will take 15-20 minutes for it to soften. Once thawed, you can spread it on bread or crackers.
Step 4. Don't use frozen cilantro in a salad or sauce
While in the freezer it will lose some of its texture and, once thawed, it will appear limp and withered, so the appearance and texture of the salad or sauce may also be affected.
Step 5. If you want, you can use fresh coriander as a decoration of the dishes instead of the frozen one
As mentioned, once thawed it will appear limp and withered. If you need to garnish a preparation, it is best to use fresh leaves.
Step 6. Keep in mind the expiration date of frozen cilantro
While keeping it in the freezer it will not last forever (but certainly much longer than the fresh one). You can use the following recommendations as a guideline:
- Use frozen cilantro within 2 months.
- Use cilantro preserved in oil within 3 months.
- Use cilantro preserved in butter within a month. After defrosting it, you can keep it in the refrigerator and consume it within 5 days.
Step 7. Finished
Advice
- If you want you can make the coriander sauce and store it in the freezer, you will get a better result than storing the herb as it is.
- If you need to dry the herbs after washing them, you can place them in the dish drainer after checking that it is perfectly clean. If you have a countertop dish drainer, you can place it near a window to speed up the process.
- If you only need to freeze a small amount of cilantro, you can also simply chop it and place it in an ice cube mold and cover it with oil.
Warnings
- Once frozen, cilantro tends to lose much of its flavor. Use it as soon as possible or do your best to avoid freezing it and enjoy it fresh. Its oils are very aromatic but also remarkably volatile, so they tend to wear off quickly.
- Do not freeze cilantro in water to avoid the risk of it diluting the flavor of your recipes.
