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Cilantro
With cilantro it's a love hate relationship, either you love the flavor, or you hate it. Love it or not, most of us have no idea where cilantro comes from or that the entire plant can be used. Cilantro is one the most widely used herbs and the dried seeds of same the plant, also known as coriander, is one of the most used spices in the world. In addition, cilantro is used in recipes all around the world.
I love cilantro and use it for finishing freshly made soups and making fruit salsas. I generally don't use the stems because, in my opinion, it makes the food bitter. When buying cilantro, look for smaller leafs as the bigger leafs tend to more bitter too. To store your fresh cilantro, cut off the ends and place the fresh cut ends into a small cup of water. Cover with a damp paper towel and place in the refrigerator. This will keep your cilantro fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Use it to make Salsa
Fresh tomato salsa averages about 25 calories per half cup. That's a low calorie topping! Salsa has little or no fat added, and is high in vitamins C and A. Plus if you make it yourself, you can control the amount of salt added.
Use it to top eggs, meatloaf, chicken, fish, pasta, or tacos. I have heard from more than one person that it tastes great on top of low fat cottage cheese. Chop it up a little finer and you can use it for dipping shrimp instead of seafood cocktail sauce.
Cook Smart...
Chef Dave Fouts