Cilantro is the most famous spicy plant, which, thanks to its unique chemical composition, has found extensive use in cosmetology, herbal medicine and cooking. Most often this spice is used with meat dishes. It not only makes them more aromatic and tasty, but also promotes better digestion of fatty, heavy foods. Harvesting cilantro for the winter allows you to store this plant so that you can use it all year round. After reading this article, you will learn about the beneficial properties of cilantro and the main methods of preparing it, as well as the most popular recipes with which you can preserve this spice.
What are some ways to preserve cilantro for the winter?
There are several ways to preserve the spicy plant, allowing it to be used all year round. Speaking about how to preserve cilantro for the winter, it is worth noting that freezing and drying is especially popular. You can also pickle the greens or cook them in oil.
This representative of the Umbrella family is a relative of carrots, honeydew, parsley and dill; it has been actively used by people since time immemorial. It came to the European continent in ancient times and was immediately appreciated in cooking, and then in phytomedicine. The plant contains 11 types of unique essential oils, a lot of ascorbic acid, cineole and linoleic acid, which is beneficial for women. Regular consumption of fresh or canned plant helps reduce blood glucose levels, removes bad cholesterol from the body and even helps overcome anemia.
It is believed that cilantro optimizes liver function and promotes its speedy recovery. So, if you eat dishes with it along with alcoholic drinks, intoxication will not be as strong and will occur more slowly. Due to the fact that the herb is rich in phosphorus and vitamin A, it improves vision and prevents cataracts and glaucoma.
In cosmetology, this representative of the Umbrella family has found application in the creation of tonics and lotions, as well as in soap making. It improves skin condition and has a rejuvenating effect.
Since cilantro or Chinese parsley is a seasonal plant, there is a need for its preparation. There are several basic ways to stock up on spice for the winter. The main ones include drying, freezing, salting, storing in oil and canning. Each option has its own characteristics, which can be divided into advantages and disadvantages.
How to properly store cilantro seeds?
To keep plant seeds fresh for as long as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- umbrellas with seeds are collected on a dry sunny day;
- washed seeds are dried in a dry place, inaccessible to sunlight;
- umbrellas are ground by hand, and the seeds are carefully separated;
- the seeds are poured into a special container; glass containers are best;
- Cilantro seeds are stored in a dry, well-ventilated place for no longer than 4 years.
How to choose grass (rules for choosing good quality grass)
The usefulness, as well as the aromatic and taste qualities of the herbaceous spicy plant largely depend on its quality. In order to eat, use for treatment or for beauty purposes, really good plants, it is useful to know the basic rules for choosing them.
The main criterion for the quality of cilantro or cilantro (this is the second name for this plant) is freshness. When buying greens in a grocery supermarket or market, it is worth inspecting the bunch. The cut areas on the stems should not be brownish or dry - this indicates that the grass was cut a long time ago and lay there for a long time. The leaves of the plant should be straight, not curled at the edges, they have a soft green tint without yellowness or brownish spots. The latter indicates that decay has begun.
An important indicator of the freshness and quality of a spice is its aroma. Bring a bunch of weed to your nose and inhale. If a sharp, specific aroma is felt, it means that the plant was cut no more than a day ago. When the smell is almost undetectable, this indicates that the cilantro was cut a long time ago and then stored for a long time in water or in the cold.
For those who cannot boast of a particularly acute sense of smell, you can do the following: tear off a leaf from one of the branches and rub it between your thumb and forefinger. If you notice a strong aroma, it means that the Chinese parsley was picked not long ago.
As a rule, cilantro is sold without roots, but on the market you can sometimes find bunches collected from whole plants (above and underground parts). In this case, when choosing, it is worth inspecting the roots. In high-quality greens, they are elastic, dry, slightly rough, without signs of rot and without slimy areas.
Selection and preparation of cilantro for harvesting for the winter at home
Cilantro greens for preparing preparations for the winter should be collected on a dry, sunny day, after the dew has disappeared. Raw materials obtained in damp weather are not suitable for storage. Even thorough drying does not help, because coriander leaves still rot and mold.
It is not recommended to cut greens under the scorching sun
The collection of raw materials is carried out in the morning or in the evening, when the heat subsides. The best time for harvesting is when the plant rises 10-12 cm above the ground.
Attention! You should prepare cilantro for future use before the plant loses its color.
If you miss this moment and cut the grass during budding, the greens will have an unpleasant bitter taste.
When buying a plant for storage for the winter, it is better to give preference to private owners. It is not recommended to purchase the product in a supermarket. When choosing cilantro, you need to pay attention to the stems. You should not buy greens with rotten branches, or if there are a lot of stems with yellowed leaves in the bunch.
A plant that has lost its aroma was cut long ago. Cilantro, collected the day before, exudes a sharp, spicy smell. If the bunch is too wet, it was prepared a long time ago, and was “revived” by spraying it with a spray bottle. It is better to refuse such a purchase.
Stages of preparing cilantro for winter storage:
- Sort through the greens. Remove dry, damaged, rotting cilantro branches.
- Wash the product by soaking it for 7-10 minutes in a bowl of cold, settled water. After this, the spice should be washed again, but the water does not need to settle.
- Dry the cilantro by spreading it in a thin layer on a paper towel.
It is not recommended to wash greens in warm water or under the tap.
Recipes for preserving cilantro for the winter
People learned to harvest cilantro almost as long ago as they learned to use the plant for food or medicinal purposes. Along with the development of science and technology and the emergence of new opportunities, new methods of preserving useful grass for the winter have become popular. One of these is freezing it.
Freezing
This method allows you to preserve the maximum benefits, taste and aroma of the spice; moreover, it is quite simple, therefore it is considered the optimal preparation option. Before freezing cilantro for the winter , be sure to wash and dry it. There are 3 methods of freezing a plant:
- The spice is finely chopped with a knife, put into portioned bags and placed in the freezer. You can remove the herb to add it to dishes no earlier than it is completely frozen. Plastic food containers can also be used for freezing.
- The washed, chopped raw materials are filled with any vegetable oil, after which they are divided into portions and placed in the freezer. It is best to pour the product into ice cube trays. By removing them from the chamber as needed, you can use them for frying.
- The washed and chopped cilantro should be poured with melted butter, then divided into portions, let it thicken and place everything in the cold.
This video describes in detail freezing cilantro:
Drying
You can dry cilantro for the winter in 3 ways: whole, in the oven and naturally. As with freezing, the grass should first be washed and the water allowed to drain, and then proceed to harvesting:
- The plants are finely chopped and laid out on cloth or paper in a thin layer, leaving everything in a dark, well-ventilated place. You need to stir the spice from time to time so that it dries evenly. As a rule, after a few days it can already be collected and placed in plastic or glass containers for storage. Cilantro must be well dried, otherwise it will become moldy and unfit for consumption.
- The washed grass should be finely chopped, placed on a sheet in a thin, even layer as possible, then put everything in the oven, preheated to 70 degrees. The plant is dried at 50 degrees, you should constantly stir it and check the degree of readiness. It is better to overdry than underdry the spice. It takes several hours to prepare. The dry, cooled product is transferred to containers and stored away from moisture and strong-smelling substances.
- Washed cilantro is tied into bunches and hung on a rope in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area, but always so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. The grass remains in this state for several days until it is completely dry, then it is carefully removed from the rope and placed in fabric bags for storage.
Pickling cilantro
One of the simple and convenient ways to preserve spices is to pickle them.
To prepare cilantro, you should wash the greens and let them drain. The marinade is prepared separately. For it you need to mix 350 grams of water with 1 tablespoon of salt, bring everything to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar. The spice is finely chopped and not placed too tightly in jars or other glass containers, and then filled with marinade. As soon as everything has cooled down, pour 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into each jar, then sterilize and roll for 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can seal the containers with a nylon lid and store them in the refrigerator.
Pickling cilantro
Cilantro can not only be pickled, but also salted, thus retaining many useful substances in its composition.
This is a simple and affordable method of preserving a spicy plant. You need to wash the greens, let the water drain and then finely chop the grass. For 1 kilogram of plant material you need to take 250 grams of table salt. Grass and salt are placed in layers in washed (preferably sterilized) jars. You need to compact the food so that the cilantro releases its juice. Containers tightly closed with nylon lids should be placed in a refrigerator or cold cellar.
Canning
You can prepare cilantro with garlic, making a flavorful and healthy snack. You should wash and dry a bunch of greens, then chop them finely. Peel and finely chop 3 cloves of garlic. Both products are mixed with 2 tablespoons of salt and then placed in clean containers greased with vegetable oil. The jars should be rolled up and placed in the cold.
Storing cilantro in oil
The spice is washed, dried so that the water drains from it, and then finely chopped. It must be mixed with corn, sunflower, or olive oil and stored in a tightly closed glass container away from direct sunlight. This product is ideal for making sauces, dressings and fries; it can be added to salads.
Many housewives prepare spicy mixes for the winter. To do this, cilantro is mixed with other plants: parsley, dill and others, and then preserved using the chosen method. Mixtures of aromatic ingredients can be frozen, salted or pickled.
You can make a delicious sauce from cilantro; its recipe is described below:
Shelf life of cilantro
Depending on the method of harvesting cilantro, its shelf life varies from several weeks to two years.
| Storage method | Period of use |
| Fresh in the refrigerator | Up to two weeks |
| Canned | From 3 to 12 months |
| In the freezer | Up to one year |
| Dried | Up to two years |
Coriander is popular among housewives because it has a unique aroma. It gives dishes a spicy taste.
Cilantro chimichurri sauce
To prepare the famous Latin American chimichurri sauce, which is used to season juicy beef steaks, corn and unleavened tortillas stuffed with mushrooms and vegetables, you will need:
- 1 large bunch of cilantro, trimmed of rough petioles and stems;
- 8 cloves of garlic;
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar;
- juice of one lime;
- 70 grams of toasted pumpkin seeds;
- 1/2 cup olive oil;
- a little red pepper, ground or finely chopped;
- salt to taste.
All ingredients, except olive oil, are ground and mixed in a blender until pureed, then the oil is carefully poured in, and the sauce is mixed again, achieving a smooth, homogeneous mass. Add salt, lemon or lime juice and wine vinegar to your taste. The main note of the seasoning’s taste is set by cilantro and garlic. This cilantro preparation for the winter is packaged in small glass jars and stored in a refrigerator.
Spicy oil based on coriander seeds and herbs
Based on dried cilantro and the seeds of this plant, you can prepare a spicy oil for dressing salads, making homemade mayonnaise and marinades. To do this, crushed parts of the plant or whole stems, as well as coriander umbrellas, are poured with any vegetable oil and left in a glass container for 8–10 days in a cool, dark place. Cilantro, rich in aromatic substances and essential oils, already transfers some of them to liquids during this period.
If the plant material is left for a longer period, the oil acquires a rich red-brown hue and a sweetish-spicy aroma.
And from fresh herbs, cilantro, basil and other spices based on olive oil, you can prepare and preserve for the winter a spicy dressing for cereal dishes and potatoes.
To prepare it you will need:
- 1 cup fresh green basil leaves;
- 1 cup chopped young stems and leaves of cilantro;
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped;
- 1/2 pod of seeded jalapeno pepper;
- 1/2 cup olive oil.
The vegetables for this preparation of cilantro for the winter are first cleaned, washed and crushed in a blender, after which olive oil is gradually added to the bowl and the mass is carefully mixed again until it becomes a homogeneous puree. The dressing, poured into glass containers, will be ready after a month of storage in a cool, dark place.
If desired, you can add a little lemon juice and salt to the aromatic oil. In this case, the sauce can be served with meat, mushrooms and baked vegetables.
Is it possible to freeze cilantro for the winter? Yes, and in this case, vegetable oil or butter will come in handy, and the greens that have retained all their beneficial qualities will turn into an excellent seasoning for vegetable and meat dishes, sandwiches, rice and pasta.
Is it possible to freeze cilantro?
Almost any food can be frozen. Cilantro is no exception. You just need to know the features of harvesting leafy greens. The rich, bright taste is easy to lose. The plant does not tolerate long-term storage. There is a risk that instead of a fragrant semi-finished product, you will get a herbaceous mass similar to hay from the chamber.
Why do they freeze?
Two main purposes are to supply the body with useful substances and to be used in cooking. This ingredient is key in many oriental recipes. It is not always allowed to replace fresh cilantro leaves with a dry analogue.
Is frozen cilantro good for you?
At low temperatures, cilantro loses some of its vitamins and its mineral composition becomes poorer. The properly dried analogue has much more benefits. But a frozen product retains its taste, color, and aroma better. Some valuable nutrients remain.
Useful properties of frozen cilantro:
- inhibits the development of inflammatory processes, is a natural antiseptic;
- improves digestion. Helps the stomach cope with fatty, heavy foods;
- normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland, helps restore hormonal levels and the menstrual cycle in women;
- lowers cholesterol levels. Better prevention of cardiovascular diseases;
- cleanses the kidneys and has a mild diuretic effect.
The beneficial properties refer to high-quality cilantro grown in natural conditions without artificial stimulants or chemical fertilizers.
Freezing cilantro in the freezer
When frozen, the beneficial properties of coriander are preserved for a shorter time, compared to the dried method of preparing the spice for the winter. The main advantage of freezing is the ability to preserve the original appearance of the greens, while dried cilantro, although it can be stored well and for a long time, its appearance deteriorates. There are several options for freezing coriander:
- in freezer bags;
- cubes;
- shredded;
- in vegetable – olive or sunflower oil;
- in butter.
Each of the listed methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to choose a specific option based on your own preferences, as well as how you plan to use the coriander frozen at home in the future.
In freezer bags
Fresh coriander leaves are washed under cool running water, after which the liquid is allowed to drain - the greens are dried with a waffle or paper towel. It is also possible to place the cilantro in a colander through which the water will drain. Before freezing, the greens must be fairly dry, so it is recommended to additionally wipe the coriander leaves with paper towels or napkins. There is no need to rub the greens vigorously, since with this method of drying there is a very high probability of damage to the leaves.
Permissibility of freezing coriander for the winter
The spice is often used in the preparation of various first and second courses, to which it gives a unique but pleasant aroma and taste. The decision to freeze bunches of cilantro for the winter is a good option for those who like to use fresh herbs in cooking throughout the year. Coriander frozen at home and in a household freezer does not lose its taste characteristics and beneficial health properties.
Attention! After defrosting, cilantro still retains its original appearance and aroma.
There are several options for freezing fresh coriander - all of them are simple and even a person without culinary skills and talents can handle them. But, fresh-frozen cilantro, regardless of the chosen method, can lie in the freezer for up to 3 months; after this period of time has expired, the spice loses its aroma and beneficial characteristics, takes on a limp appearance, and its taste becomes unpleasant.
Useful properties of cilantro in winter
Our ancestors also extracted a lot of beneficial properties from coriander. Eating cilantro in winter will increase the body's resistance to colds, strengthen the immune system, and improve the general condition of the body. But the beneficial properties of greens do not end there.
The value of cilantro is determined by the following factors:
- has an antiseptic effect, eliminates inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and bleeding gums;
- normalizes women's hormonal levels, alleviates pain during the menstrual period, improves reproductive function;
- reduces the level of glucose and bad cholesterol in the blood;
- remove excess fluid from the body, preventing swelling;
- improves the functioning of the nervous system;
- has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and liver.
Scientists have proven that regular consumption of cilantro improves immunity and has a healing and calming effect on the body.
How to keep it fresh
Use damp paper towels
This method requires cutting off the dry ends of each stem and any damaged areas. Place the bunches in a container of water for 5–10 minutes. This will completely clean the grass and nourish it. Dry the product with paper towels without reaching complete dryness. Place the dried product on a damp paper towel and pack in a bag or container.
Important! When placing the product, you must leave 2.5 centimeters without filling and air. The paper towel you use should not be very wet, but only slightly damp.
Use dry paper towels
The stems are processed in the same way as in the first option. The greens are laid out on a towel for a couple of hours to dry, avoiding direct contact with sunlight. For convenience, a plastic container is used. The grass is laid in layers, alternating with dry towels. The container closes as tightly and hermetically as possible. The product requires periodic inspection to remove faded tufts.
Important! If excess moisture appears in the container, it is necessary to dry the container in use. After removing excess moisture, a new product is added. The only container convenient for this method is a plastic sealed container.
Use a container of water
This is a great way to keep cilantro fresh in the refrigerator for a long time. To use this method, you need to prepare a sharp knife, a glass container, and a plastic bag. Stems are subject to pre-treatment. Already cleaned branches are dried on a paper towel. After this, the bottom of each plant is cut to 2/5 of its length. The container is filled with cool water to the level of the plant leaves. The branches are arranged vertically. To reduce the harmful effects of the environment, the container is covered with a plastic bag secured to the neck with an elastic band. The entire structure fits in the refrigerator.
Important! You need to constantly monitor the condition of the water. If the water begins to become cloudy, it needs to be changed. Leaves are an indicator of the safety of the plant. If they begin to fade, then it is necessary to get rid of the workpiece.
Cilantro is not recommended to be used in large quantities for gastritis, thrombophlebitis, diabetes mellitus and some other diseases. You should consume no more than 36 grams of the product at a time.
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Cilantro chutney with garlic and nuts
Fans of oriental cuisine can use a recipe for preparing cilantro for the winter, where the seeds of this plant are used along with herbs. Walnut kernels and garlic are crushed, chopped onions, cilantro and parsley are added to the same container. A small pod of seeded hot pepper will add spiciness to the seasoning.
Dried ground coriander grains, turmeric, fenugreek, paprika and salt are added to the chopped vegetables and herbs to taste. As a marinade, use water mixed with white wine vinegar. For 50 ml of boiled water you will need 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Add enough liquid to the mixture to form a thick paste, while gently stirring the sauce without stopping.
The finished seasoning, prepared from cilantro for the winter, is placed in jars and stored in the cold. You can serve chutney with fried slices of zucchini or eggplant, or add the sauce to rice or couscous.
