Coriander is an herb similar to parsley and is often used in various cuisines. These leaves have an earthy aroma and can give a fresh and sweet taste to fruit and vegetable sauces or salsas. However, if you want to make a sauce or salsa using these aromatic herbs, you'll need to chop them up a certain way. If the cilantro is chopped properly, you can get its delicious taste and aroma in your cooking.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Washing the Coriander Leaves
Step 1. Put cold water in a medium sized bowl
Put a bunch of coriander leaves in a bowl. Twist the cilantro in a bowl and let it soak in there for 10 minutes. This can help gently remove the dirt stuck to the coriander.
Step 2. Transfer the coriander leaves to a colander
Run cold water in the kitchen sink and place the cilantro under it. Rinse the leaves until clean. Keep moving the cilantro while it is under a splash of water.
By continuing to move it, the dirt particles that are on the bottom and between the leaves will be released
Step 3. Shake the filter containing the coriander leaves until the water is no longer dripping
Place the cilantro on a large paper towel to absorb any excess water that is still on the cilantro. Don't throw away the tissue as it can be used to store the rest of the coriander leaves later.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing the Coriander Leaves
Step 1. Check for any wilted or discolored parts of the cilantro
Take that part of the leaf bundle and dispose of it properly (in a compost bin if you have one). Do this by hand. Make sure you leave only green, healthy leaves.
Step 2. Determine the number of bars you want to use
Depending on your taste for the texture and stems of the cilantro, you may need to get rid of some of the long stems. When it comes to making curries and salsa, many people say that the stems can add a rich and delicious coriander flavor to dishes. If your recipe doesn't specifically mention adding the stem, just use it according to your taste.
Step 3. Cut the stems in the amount you want
Place the cutting board on the table. Place the cilantro on a cutting board, then cut the long stems with a sharp knife. The stem is at the bottom of the coriander leaf bundle.
To prevent the cutting board from shifting as you chop the cilantro, place a damp cloth under the cutting board to provide grip
Part 3 of 3: Chopping Coriander Leaves
Step 1. Cut the coriander leaves in half, and use the center as a guide
The leaves begin to form at this point. If you only want a few leaves, divide the knot in half. If you want to save the leaves for later, don't pick them from the stems as the leaves will last longer if they stay attached to the stem.
Step 2. Save the cilantro that is not needed
Wrap the knots and unused cilantro in the paper towel you used to dry the cilantro in the previous step. Put the package in a sealed plastic (zip lock) and place in the refrigerator. Coriander leaves can stay fresh for 3-5 days if refrigerated.
Step 3. Determine the desired size of the coriander leaves
The cilantro is soft so you don't have to chop it too finely. The later you add the cilantro to the dish, the finer you will need to chop it. If you want to use it as a garnish, chop it to a reasonable size so you can sprinkle it easily on dishes.
Step 4. Bend the cilantro in half and place it on a cutting board
Chop the cilantro with a knife using an up and down motion. Repeat with the same motion to make sure all the leaves are chopped. Regardless of how finely you want to chop it, try to make it an even cut.
