CILANTRO: Best Ways to Store, Prepare, and Enjoy
STORAGE
Store in a cup with 1 inch water, cover with ziplock bag, refrigerate
Unlike basil, cilantro likes cool temperatures
Nutrition
While cilantro is rich in phytonutrients, as an herb, macronutrients/calories aren’t quite as relevant. Cilantro has been researched for its cardiovascular, neurological, and anti-inflammatory health benefits.
Fun fact
Cilantro is one of the oldest and most widely used herbs around the world. The leaf from this plant is known as cilantro, while the seed is known as the spice coriander.
3 ways to USE FRESH CILANTRO
Top any Mexican or Indian dish with fresh cilantro before serving (tacos, enchiladas, burritos, curries, dal, etc)
Chop and add to salad (some great recipes below)
Make fresh guacamole with chopped cilantro
Breakfast
Loaded Breakfast Burrito with Cilantro
Lunch
Watermelon, Feta, and Cilantro Salad
Black Bean Salsa with Cilantro
Dinner
Cilantro Lime Rice - great in a burrito bowl or with tacos
Dal Tadka - “coriander leaves” in this recipe is referring to cilantro
BASIL: Best Ways to Store, Prepare, and Enjoy
STORAGE
DO NOT REFRIGERATE! Basil is very cold sensitive.
Store in a cup with water, treat like cut flowers.
Nutrition (1/2 cup raw)
Calories: 70, Carbs: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fiber: 2g
Vitamins: A(10%DV), C(30%DV)
Minerals: Calcium(2%DV), Iron(6%DV)
Fun fact
Paired well with tomato dishes, basil is the easiest-to-use herb in my opinion! It’s also regularly used in perfumes and medicines.
5 ways to USE FRESH Basil
Top any Italian dish with fresh basil before serving (pizza, pasta, etc.)
Bruschetta: if you’ve never tried it, you have to ASAP- it makes a great snack/app
Pesto: good as a pasta sauce, over baked potatoes, or on flatbread
Homemade Basil Hummus
Breakfast
Tomato, Mushroom, Basil Frittata
Lunch
Basil Vinaigrette- makes a great salad dressing
Dinner
Lime Basil Bundt Cake (curious to see how this turns out)
Thai Basil Fried Rice - add some cabbage too
Honestly, just look up your favorite meals and find a recipe that includes basil or make one of your own!
MINT: Best Ways to Store, Prepare, and Enjoy
STORAGE
Loosely wrap in a dampened paper towel and place in an unsealed plastic bag.
Trim the ends and place in a glass filled with an inch or so of water.
Try preserving it! Drying and freezing are great options:
Dry: oven dry on low heat for 2-4 hours or hang dry upside down in paper bags for about two weeks.
Freeze: pick off leaves, chop up, and put 1-2 teaspoons per icecube in a tray. Bag up the frozen cubes and add to your favorite beverage/dish whenever you want!
NutritionAL BENEFITS
While mint is rich in phytonutrients, as an herb, macronutrients/calories aren’t quite as relevant. But holy moly there are so many health benefits of mint!
Mint has many soothing properties, and can help fix an upset stomach or indigestion. It can also calm allergy symptoms and treat cold symptoms.
Fun fact
45% of mint oil in the US is used for chewing gum, another 45% is used to flavor “good breath” things like toothpaste and mouthwash, and the remaining 10% is used as flavoring for the confectionery, pharmaceutical, liquor, and aroma industries.
4 ways to USE FRESH MINT
Add leaves to greek yogurt
Boil leaves for a tasty mint tea that soothes the stomach and aids digestion
Add some to your smoothie for a nice flavor addition
Add to limeade or lemonade, or try one of these cocktails
Breakfast
Brew some fresh mint tea, it’s a breakfast game changer!
Lunch
Chop up a few leaves and add to your salad greens for another layer of flavor
Radish Salad with Mint and Pistachios
Pop a couple of “mint ice cubes” into your iced tea
Make some pesto for sauce, dressing, dips or spreads
Dinner
Pan-roasted Chicken with Mint Sauce
For a fun dessert, try dipping in chocolate and letting it chill on wax paper in the fridge until hardened
Try making your own tincture: mix some chopped mint with vodka in a mason jar then shake daily for at least 4 weeks before straining- use it as a mint mixer or a home medicine