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Cilantro's Long History
Have you ever wondered why one cookbook
calls for cilantro in there salsa recipe while another
one calls for coriander. Then when you go to the store
you see the sign reads cilantro/coriander. So what is
the difference between the two? Nothing, cilantro and
coriander stem from the same plant.
Aromatic and full of citrus flavor cilantro
is a versatile herb that is a member of the carrot family
and can be used dried or fresh. When the seeds from
the coriander plant are harvested and dried they become
the dried spice coriander. The stems and leaves are
then left and become the bright green fresh herb known
as cilantro.
Cilantro has a long culinary history;
it has been used in baking and cooking as far back as
the Egyptians. Coriander seeds have even been found
in Egyptian tombs and writings about coriander appear
in Sanskrit dating from around 1500 BC.
In some stores you may find what looks
like cilantro under the name Mexican parsley. It is
the exact same herb. The three names derive from first;
the plants common name of coriander. Second the term
cilantro specifically refers to the fresh leaves and
stems from the coriander plant. Third the country where
cilantro is commonly used, Mexico. Cilantro is as versatile
an herb in Mexican cooking as is parsley in American
cuisine.
Cilantro can be found in the produce
section of you local supermarket. It is sold bunched
and tied the same as parsley. You can easily tell the
difference between cilantro and parsley by looking at
the leaves and smelling the herb. The leaves of cilantro
are wider than parsley and the scent is very aromatic.
Cilantro is commonly used in salsas,
dips, dressings and sauces. You can even find Chinese
recipes calling for Chinese parsley which is the same
as cilantro.
When you bring cilantro home from the
supermarket place the bouquet in a glass of water with
only the stems submerged. Loosely cover the green leaves
with a plastic bag. This will keep the fresh flavor
longer than storing the cilantro dry.
When it comes time to use cilantro it
is best prepared by crushing the tender leaves with
a mortar and pestle or by hand. This will help to release
the full bodied flavor. When cooking with cilantro add
it toward the end of cooking. The delicate nature of
cilantro does not hold up to heat.
1howto.com
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