A handful of fresh cilantro not only makes your food look more appetizing but also adds zing to the flavor. Cilantro can infuse fresh as well as earthy undertones into your dips, soups, salads, sandwiches and curries.

However, the uses of this Mediterranean herb go way beyond just flavoring and garnishing your food. Cilantro has been used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes, due to the presence of potent antioxidants that guard against diseases and premature aging.

Advertisements

It is low in calories and high in vitamins and dietary fiber. It is also a rich source of minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese.

Consuming cilantro helps lower bad cholesterol, aids digestion, alleviates inflammatory conditions and helps prevent bacterial and fungal infections.

how to chop cilantro

With its plethora of benefits, you might be tempted to incorporate cilantro into your cooking, if you haven’t already. However, for those familiar with the herb, the process of extracting and mincing cilantro leaves can put you off. You either end up using the dried form or skip it altogether. But don’t give up just yet!

Advertisements

You can work your way around the herb by using simple kitchen tools like a knife, glass or herb scissors. Yes, it is that simple!

Read on to learn quick and easy ways to chop cilantro.

Method 1. Use a Knife

A sharp knife is a star performer in the kitchen. For some, it can aid in showing off their culinary skills, but for many who find cooking a tedious chore, it can make their lives much easier. Especially when it comes to chopping herbs like cilantro, it’s hard to beat a sharp knife.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to chop cilantro using a knife

  • Cilantro
  • Sharp knife
  • Chopping board

Step 1. Chop off the roots

 chop off cilantro roots with knife

Advertisements
  • Place the bunch of cilantro on the chopping board and cut off the roots.

Step 2. Scrape the cilantro leaves

scrape cilantro leaves with knife

  • Hold the thicker stems of the bunch.
  • Keeping your knife parallel to the chopping board, scrape it across the cilantro leaves.
  • In a way similar to skinning vegetables, use short strokes to remove all the leaves from the stems.
  • Rotate the bunch to remove the leaves from all sides.

Step 3. Chop the leaves

chop cilantro leaves with a knife

  • Pack the leaves in a tight bundle and slice them roughly by sliding your knife through the pile.
  • Now, use your free hand to press the tip of the knife against the chopping board and rock the knife back and forth to chop the cilantro leaves into finer pieces.
  • Collect the chopped cilantro in a bowl.

final using knife to chop cilantro

 Method 2. Use a Glass

You don’t really need to stock your kitchen with fancy and complicated equipment to simplify everyday cooking. If you can smell the irony, it is time to go back to the basics. A regular cup or glass and a pair of scissors can make chopping cilantro fun and hassle-free.

Advertisements

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to chop cilantro using a glass

  • Glass
  • Scissors
  • Cilantro

Step 1. Place cilantro leaves in a glass

 place cilantro leaves in a glass

  • Cut off the roots from the bunch as shown in Step 1 of Method 1.
  • Fold the bunch in half and place it in a glass. Don’t overstuff the glass, as it will leave the cilantro wet and clumpy after chopping.

Step 2. Chop the leaves with scissors

chop cilantro leaves in a glass with scissors

  • Put your scissors inside the glass and start snipping the cilantro leaves. Continue until your cilantro is finely chopped.
  • Collect it in a bowl.

final using glass to chop cilantro

Method 3. Use Herb Scissors

If you aren’t a big fan of using sharp knives and fear chopping off your fingers, get your hands on a pair of herb scissors. They look just like regular scissors but with multiple blades. Herb scissors are easy to operate and can mince delicate herbs evenly.

Advertisements

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to chop cilantro using herb scissors

  • Herb scissors
  • Cilantro
  • Chopping board

Single-Step Method: Chop cilantro with herb scissors

chop cilantro with herb scissors

  • Separate the roots from the cilantro bunch as shown in Step 1 of Method 1.
  • Hold the bunch firmly in one hand and clip off the leaves using the herb scissors.
  • Collect them in a bowl. Alternatively, you can chop them off directly over the dish.

using herb scissors to chop cilantro

Tips

  • Always wash the cilantro bunch thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt. If you still find dirt on the leaves, dip the cilantro in a bowl of water and swish it around until the dirt comes off.
  • You can use the tender stems along with the leaves, as they too are packed with a lot of flavor.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/how-i-got-myself-to-eat-cilantro#1

 

Advertisements