The world seems to be firmly divided into two camps: pro-cilantro and anti-cilantro. It is incredibly rare to find someone ambivalent about this ancient herb, either they love it or they hate it. If you are in the former group, here are a few ideas to take your cilantro game up a notch and incorporate it into even more dishes. If you’re in the latter group, well, maybe this article will change your mind. Here are just a few reasons to grow cilantro today.
How To Harvest & Prepare Cilantro
One of the best things to do to increase the lifespan of your cilantro plant is to harvest from it regularly. This is perfect since you’ll soon be incorporating it into every meal and won’t be able to get enough of it. Cut the plant one-third of the way down with sharp scissors to harvest and leave the bottom two thirds to grow new leaves. You can also just trim off a few pieces if your recipe is not cilantro-heavy. It is important to harvest from your plant at least once a week to prevent bolting. Freeze any leftover cilantro you don’t plan on using within a couple of days to preserve its flavor.
Be sure to treat cilantro gently when you are preparing it as it can bruise easily and leave all of its potent flavors on the cutting board instead of in your food. Use an extremely sharp knife and gently slice cilantro into small stips rather than roughly chopping it.
Food
The use of cilantro as a food dates back to the ancient Egyptians, from there it was carried along trade routes to the Chinese where it became a popular staple in many dishes. Eventually making its way to North America, cilantro particularly gained traction in Latin America and Mexico where it enhances and flavors much Mexican cuisine to this day. But the use of cilantro in cooking doesn’t stop at tacos, burritos, fajitas, and guacamole. It can be added to many culinary creations for its fragrant and slightly citrusy taste.
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