nuts and cilantro chimichurri sauceCoriander is often referred to as the whole plant and its round seeds, which are used for flavoring culinary dishes, pickles, pickles and pastries. And the Caucasian name "cilantro" and the South American "silantro" denote odorous greens. No wonder that it is cilantro in the Caucasus, in the region of centenarians, who season meat dishes. Regular consumption of herbs with a sharp, fresh aroma has a positive effect on blood pressure and blood supply. Substances contained in the leaves of cilantro, stimulate the production of gastric juice, contribute to the speedy digestion of fatty meat food, and cleansing the body.
There are a lot of essential oils, vitamins, organic acids and other biologically active substances in foliage and coriander seeds, due to which the seasoning has a pronounced beneficial effect on the general condition of the body and its defenses.
In the summer, when the vitamins literally “grow in the beds”, it does not cost anything to add a couple of sprigs of spicy grass to a salad or meat stew. But what to do in the winter when this type of green is not so affordable? How to keep cilantro for the winter, and what can be prepared from this wonderful plant for future use?
How to keep cilantro for the winter?
Like other varieties of spicy flavoring greens, fresh cilantro can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 3-4 weeks. To do this, cut young stems and leaf stalks are immersed in a container with water, the bundle is covered with a package on top and put in a cold form. At about the same time, cilantro leaves will remain juicy and green if they are folded into bags or containers.
To collect the condensate that forms inside the tank, you can lay a napkin, which you will have to change from time to time.
But no matter how I would like to prepare prince for cinnamon for the winter, this is unlikely to succeed. But you should not despair. Grown on the beds the crop will not disappear. If you use the many recipes for harvesting cilantro for the winter, involving drying, salting, freezing and other processing methods.
Harvesting dried cilantro for the winter
One of the simplest and most common ways to preserve the beneficial properties and flavor of greens for a long time is drying. If all the rules are followed, the temperature and duration of the process are maintained, the crushed leaves of cilantro preserve taste and aroma throughout the year and can be used to add to sauces and hot dishes.
Read also: Early varieties of potatoes - general information
Before you prepare the cilantro for the winter in this way:
- wash the stems and leaves;
- removes all rough and damaged parts of the plant;
- greens gently dried, so that the raw materials for drying no traces of water.
Gourmets say that the pungent smell of cilantro becomes softer if the greens are chopped before use or processed.
Therefore, the young parts of the shoots and leaf plates are cut, and then laid out on a clean, baking sheet in a thin, even layer. Preparation of cilantro for the winter with the help of drying is carried out in a dry, ventilated area. Plant materials should be located away from direct sunlight and heat sources with temperatures above 40 ° C.If the greens are dried in the oven or electric drier, it is important to ensure that the cilantro has the same temperature conditions and watch the process all the time so that the raw materials do not stick together and the loss of moisture goes evenly.
Dried cilantro are poured into clean glass or ceramic dishes with tight-fitting lids. Spicy greens are stored in a cool dark place for about a year, fully preserving all the active substances, aroma and taste inherent in coriander. Similarly, dried coriander seeds, which in winter will be useful for the preparation of fragrant bread, add to sauces, dishes of minced meat and poultry.
Spicy oil based on coriander seeds and greens
On the basis of dried cilantro and seeds of this plant, you can make savory oil for salad dressing, homemade mayonnaise and marinade. To do this, crushed plant parts or whole stems, as well as umbrellas of coriander, are poured with any vegetable oil and left in a glass container for 8–10 days in a dark, cool place. Cilantro, rich in aromatic substances and essential oils, already during this period, some of them transmit liquids.
If you leave the vegetable raw materials for a longer period, the oil gets a rich red-brown shade and a sweet-spicy aroma.
And from fresh greens of cilantro, basil and other spices on the basis of olive oil can be prepared and preserved for the winter spicy dressing for cereal dishes and potatoes.
For its preparation you will need:
- 1 glass of fresh foliage of green basil;
- 1 cup crushed young stalks and leaves of cilantro;
- 1 peeled and chopped garlic clove;
- 1/2 pod of jalapeno peeled seed;
- 1/2 cup olive oil.
Vegetables for this preparation are pre-cleaned for cilantro for the winter, washing and pulverizing in a blender, then olive oil is gradually added to the bowl and the mass is again gently mixed to a state of smooth mash. Refueling, poured into glass containers, will be ready after a month of storage in a dark, cool place.
If desired, add some lemon juice and salt to the aromatic oil. In this case, the sauce can be served with meat, mushrooms and baked vegetables.
Can I freeze cilantro for the winter? Yes, and in this case, vegetable or butter will be useful, and the greens that have retained all their useful qualities will turn into a great seasoning for vegetable and meat dishes, sandwiches, rice and pasta.
Read also: Majestic garden warrior - ash tree
Freezing greens: recipes harvesting cilantro for the winter
Low temperatures make it possible not only to keep cilantro for the winter, but also to preserve all the vitamins and active ingredients in it. The easiest way to freeze cilantro consists of:
- in a pre-bulkhead and washing greens;
- in its thorough drying on a paper or cloth towel;
- in grinding and distribution in dense packages.
After this, closed containers with spicy grass are removed to the freezer, where the greens are to be stored. If, according to this recipe, not only cilantro, but also other herbs are harvested for the winter, it is better to sign the packages in advance in order to facilitate the recognition of green raw materials.
Portion cubes based on chopped cilantro green taste more and more hostesses. Make them at home is a snap. The leaves and succulent parts of the petioles are crushed, and the resulting mass is decomposed into ice molds or other containers of small volume. The water added to the crushed greens fastens it, giving the cube form prepared for the winter coriander.
Instead of water, you can add melted butter or olive oil, as well as garlic and lemon juice, with which cilantro blends well.
Snack oil with cilantro and vegetables for the winter
Butter, like vegetable, helps the green and all its beneficial properties to last until next spring.
To take advantage of such a recipe and preserve cilantro for the winter, chop the greens, mix them thoroughly with softened butter and, putting it on food film or a sheet of parchment, form a bar that is convenient for storing and then cutting. In the conditions of the freezer, butter with greens of cilantro is stored for 3 to 6 months, the same product can be used while cooking rice and potato, ground beef and pasta.
If desired, in addition to cilantro, green and non-spicy onions, garlic and lemon zest, pieces of sweet pepper and other spicy cultures are added to butter.
A bit of table salt will help the spicy oil last longer, and the vegetables and herbs in it will remain juicy, like when picked from the bed.
How to save cilantro for the winter:
marinade recipe Adding vinegar contributes to the long preservation of products, and cilantro green - is no exception. The easiest recipe for preparing cilantro for the winter involves pouring chopped greens with a marinade of 300 ml of water, a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of 9% vinegar.
Read also: Growing coriander from seeds is a simple matter for taste and benefit.
Tightly stuffed glass jars with spicy foliage:
- is filled with ready-made marinade:
- is allowed to infuse;
- then add some vegetable oil on top;
- close containers with lids.
Harvested cilantro prepared according to this recipe for the winter will improve the taste of salads, meat sauces and vegetable stews. Store the greens under the marinade should be in the refrigerator or cellar.
Chilli Cilantro with Garlic and Nuts
Oriental cuisine lovers can take advantage of the recipe for harvesting cilantro for the winter, where the seeds of this plant are used along with the greens. The kernels of walnuts and garlic are crushed, chopped onions, cilantro and parsley are added to the same container. The small pod of hot peppers, cleared of seeds, will make the seasoning spiciness.
Dried ground coriander seeds, turmeric, fenugreek, paprika and salt are added to chopped vegetables and herbs to taste. As a marinade take water mixed with white wine vinegar. For 50 ml of boiled water, you will need 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Liquids are added to the mixture so that a thick paste is obtained, while the sauce is gently stirred, without stopping.
Ready seasoning, harvested from cilantro for the winter, laid out on the banks and stored in the cold. Serve chutney can be roasted zucchini slices or eggplant, add the sauce in rice or couscous.
Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce
For preparing the famous Latin American Chimichuri sauce, which is seasoned with juicy beef steaks, corn and fresh tortilla stuffed with mushrooms and vegetables;
- 1 large bunch of cilantro, peeled from rough petioles and stems;
- 8 garlic cloves;
- 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar;
- juice of one lime;
- 70 grams of roasted pumpkin seeds;
- 1/2 cup olive oil;
- slightly red pepper, ground or finely chopped;
- salt to taste.
All components, except olive oil, are ground and mixed in a blender to a puree, then gently pour in the butter, and the sauce is mixed again, achieving a smooth, even mass. Salt, lemon or lime juice and wine vinegar are added to your liking. The main note to taste is seasoned by cilantro and garlic. Such a billet of cilantro is packed in winter for small glass jars and stored in refrigerator.
Cilantro blanks for the winter -
video
