coriander 🌿

origin:

coriander/cilantro is native to southern regions like southern europe, northern africa and southwestern asia. it is one of the main herbs in india and traditionally used to sprinkle on traditional dishes like curries, or other rice-based meals. In mexico it is used to garnish guacamole or tacos but it has definitely found its way into other cuisines all over the world too. cilantro grows on soft plants up to 50 cm tall with smaller leaves in variable shapes at the bottom and slender, feathery leaves at the top. the taste of cilantro is quite unique and it has to two camps of people either loving or hating it. to those who hate it, cilantro tastes like soap. this is however not due to the plant but to their own genetics. a variation in the taste-genes allows them to strongly perceive certain compounds of cilantro leaves as soapy-flavored. 

properties: 

cilantro, like all herbs, is extremely low in calories. 100 grams have only 23 calories and of course that is seldom the amount anybody would eat as one portion. it further contains 4 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams, 2 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fat. In terms of micronutrients cilantro is high in a wide variety of vitamins including Vitamin a, c, e, k and some b vitamins, as well as folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. Like most herbs, cilantro is a tiny powerhouse!

benefits:

fresh herbs are the number one food group with the highest amount of antioxidants. they even easily top berries and green tea. like so cilantro has great anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. it may also prevent diseases of the heart and brain and lower cholesterol. as it is so easy to add to your diet, cilantro as well as other fresh herbs, should be an addition to all of your meals. 

use:

there is really no limit to what cilantro can or should be used for. to milden the flavor, you can add it to a hot dish and let it cook or bake for a while. to increase the flavor make sure you use the stems as well and add the cilantro raw, only at the end. it pairs well with tomato, mango, cucumber, noodles, rice, tofu and much more. to keep it fresh as long as possible: wrap it up in a damp towel and keep it in the fridge. this way it can last up to two weeks.

looking for more? just come by and visit our vegan restaurants in the city centre of groningen and hamburg. we offer fresh, healthy, and delicious coriander bowls, salads and juices for pickup and delivery!