A Yemeniyah's Recipes

The Farmer’s Market I frequent sells 3 bunches of Cilantro [Kuzbara] for $1 all year round. I end up using 1 or 2 bunches, and the third goes bad and into the trash. What a waste!

I tried cutting up the Cilantro and freezing it in Ziplock bags. I tried stuffing some in ice cube trays and adding a little water/or olive oil and making Cilantro cubes . All of these methods didn’t preserve the flavor I was looking for , or the the texture for my dishes . I simply do not like frozen Cilantro; I want it fresh for garnish, salads, chutneys … So, I tried this and it really works:

Take a jar, fill it with cold water, and use it as a vase for your cilantro. Cover the top with a plastic bag and refrigerate. Change the water at least twice a week. They stay so fresh and firm for at least 7-10 days. I haven’t tried it beyond 10 days–mine are usually gone by then–but I wouldn’t be surprised if you got a few more days out of them. According to a Facebook response to this post, the Cilantro was still usable at 3 weeks.

And the “Cilantro Chronicles” continue . . .