About Cilantro
Cilantro leaves have pungent smell described by some as "soapy" The stems also have a strong odour and flavour. Leaves and stems pair well with piquant foods, such as in the cuisines of the US Southwest, Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and in parts of northern Africa. Flavours are used to "lift" other flavours; they enhance and promote other pronounced flavours. Coriander roots are used often used fresh as a base flavour for Asian soups.
Cilantro Selection and Storage
Although it is usually just the leaves of the fresh cilantro plant that are used, the stems and roots are edible as well. Fresh cilantro is usually sold in bunches alongside fresh parsley. Choose cilantro with bright, evenly-colored green leaves, showing no sign of yellowing or wilting.
As soon as you arrive home with fresh cilantro, place the stems (with roots intact if attached) in a glass of water and cover the the top loosely with a plastic bag. Refrigerate. Snip off leaves as you need them and re-cover. The water should be changed every 2 to 3 days. Do not wash the herb until you are ready to use it since excess moisture will turn the leaves to green slime during storage. Depending on its treatment at the market, it should last up to a week in the refrigerator.
To freeze, place a small amount dry cilantro leaves in a single layer on a cookie sheet. When frozen, gather into a zip-top bag, returning to the freezer immediately. Use within 6 months. Do not thaw before using.
Cilantro may also be dried in the same manner as parsley, however, its flavor will be greatly diminished. Drying is neither recommended nor worth your time. Dried cilantro is available in most markets, should you have the need.
The seeds of the cilantro plant are known as coriander in the Americas. As with any spice, coriander seeds should be kept in a sealed container away from light and heat. The flavor will begin to diminish after about 6 months. Use within 1 year.
Culinary Uses
The leaves are always used fresh. They feature in Spanish, Middle Eastern, Indian, Oriental and South American cookery. They are often sprinkled like parsley on cooked dishes, minced or puréed in sauces, soups and curries. In Thailand the root of the coriander plant is used to flavour meats, curries and soups. In Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. it is used in everything from salsas and salads to burritos or meat dishes.
Helath Benefits of Cilantro
Cilantro is known to be rich in phytonutrients, flavonoids and active phenolic acid compounds, all of which are good for you. There are no definitive studies on cilantro but many believe that it and the seeds (often called coriander), have been found to help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol and fight inflammation and free radicals. There is further speculations that cilantro may also have antimicrobial properties.
There is also considerable literature speculating that cilantro may be an effective chellation therapy for people who have excess mercury in their systems. Some think that mercury poisoning could be the result of metallic teeth fillings. Every time a person with fillings chews, the fillings release minute amounts of mercury gas that may be breathed into the system (swallowing mercury is actually far less toxic than breathing it). Of course, this is all speculative and disputed. Nevertheless, many people who have suffered from mercury poisoning and the "brain cloud" it causes have reported fairly rapid relief by the consistent consumption of cilantro over a period of just a few weeks.
Cilantro is also reported to deal effectively with other metals in the system. Consumption of about two teaspoons of cilantro pesto daily for three or four weeks may have beneficial effects.
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