Cilantro or wansuy (coriander leaves) perks up the flavor of soups, stir fries and even stews. But unless you have a pot of cilantro growing in your garden or the market is within walking distance from your house, regular access to cilantro may be difficult. Storing cilantro is a pain, honestly, because it wilts fast. In fact, during the hot summer months, it isn’t unusual for the cilantro to wilt between the market and the kitchen. Nigella Lawson suggests keeping them in the fridge in brown paper bags that help absorb the excess moisture. That makes the cilantro last for a couple of days but not longer.
On days when I don’t have fresh cilantro, I use cilantro paste. It’s not the same since you can’t sprinkle a paste on your soup or stew but it’s a passable substitute in some recipes. Coriander paste is made from chopped coriander leaves (wansuy/cilantro), soybean oil, rice vinegar, salt, sugar and citric acid. Bought it at Market! Market!
Conversations