31 Days of Green: Day 17 Cilantro

There are two types of people in this world; those that love cilantro and those who hate it. I’ve never met anyone that is just kind of indifferent towards it. I am definitely in the love group. I love a cilantro filled tomatillo sauce, I love cilantro in my soup, and I love cilantro muddled in a mixed drink. The only thing I don’t love about it is how quickly it goes bad. It has a very short shelf life once it is cut and I haven’t successfully been able to grow my own yet. Today’s recipe solves that problem, but more on that in a minute. Cilantro is also coriander. You can find coriander seeds whole or ground in the spice section and they are also super delicious, especially if you toast them in the pan first. You can read more about that here. Cilantro is also a good source of iron, folate, and many other vitamins and minerals; as well as antioxidants. Any fresh herbs are a really great addition to your diet and this recipe today can be used for saving any fresh herb.

Cilantro Freezer Sauce

Gluten Free, Vegan

Makes about 2 cups

¾ bunch cilantro

1 cup olive oil

1 lime or lemon, juiced

½ tsp salt

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until its pretty smooth. There will be some small visible cilantro pieces. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once the cubes are frozen you can but them into a container or freezer bag.

Notes and Substitutions

You can do other herbs this way. One’s I’ve tried are parsley, basil, oregano, sage. You can also do combinations

What to do with your sauce?

Made cilantro lime aioli for these veggies burgers

• Mix with mayo to make an aioli
• Spread over chicken or fish before cooking
• Use as a salad dressing
• Add it to soups
• Use it as sauce for noodles

How do you like to keep herbs? What is your favorite herb?