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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Side Dish

    How to Cut Cilantro

    Published: Jun 25, 2022 by Lisa Killian ยท This post may contain affiliate links. Please read myย  disclosure policy.

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    Cutting cilantro is really easy and will have your dishes tasting fresh and delicious. In three steps you will learn how to cut cilantro!

    cilantro chopped on cutting board with knife
    Fresh cilantro adds so much to a dish!

    How to cut cilantro?

    • Rinse and pat dry your cilantro.
    • At this time, I like to quickly look through the bunch removing any leaves and stems that have gone bad- sometimes there are none and sometimes there are a few. They will be brown or black in color.
    clilantro bunch on cutting board before being cut
    After rinsing remove any stems or leaves that have gone bad.
    • Cut off the long stems.
    • The stems are the parts that donโ€™t have any leaves coming off of them. They are thicker and are typically โ…”rds of the bunch.
    cutting off cilantro stems
    Chop the stems off at the base of the leaves.
    • Chop cilantro to desired consistency.
    • Start at the top of the cilantro bunch and with a rocking motion (see video), chop the cilantro from top to bottom, then from side to side. Repeat until chopped to your desired consistency.
    cutting off cilantro stems
    cutting the cilantro on wooden cutting board with chef knife
    finly chopping cilantro leaves
    cilantro cuttings in hand
    Chopping cilantro is easy!

    Best tool for chopping cilantro is a sharp knife. I prefer a chefโ€™s knife because its length and width allow for easy gripping and cutting.

    Do you include stems when chopping cilantro?

    Typically, not the long stems. They can be eaten but will not have much flavor and a woodier texture when eaten.

    You will get rid of the bulk of the stems when you cut them off before chopping the leaves. However, there will still be the softer top of the stems.

    New growth stems that the leaves are attached to chop easily and arenโ€™t noticeable when you eat the cilantro. If you are chopping and have a long piece of stem or two then you can easily pick them out.

    removing stems from cilantro cuttings
    After the first pass of cutting I like to remove any stems I missed.

    What is the easiest way to chop cilantro?

    Cut off the long base stem (or tear off a handful of the cilantro leaves in a fistful). Using a chef knife chop the cilantro from top of the bunch to bottom with a rocking motion, then chop side to side. 

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    What size should you chop your cilantro?

    For a pico de gallo salsa, or fajitas tacos, I like to leave the cilantro a little bigger, but for something like a salsa verde I will finely chop the cilantro.

    How long does chopped cilantro stay good?

    It should last up to a week in the refrigerator.

    chopped cilantro in black bowl
    Fresh cilantro adds so much flavor to a dish!

    How to store cut cilantro?

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.       

    Can you chop cilantro in a blender or food processor?

    Often if Iโ€™m making salsas, I will just add the cilantro to the food processor or blender I am using along with the rest of the ingredients and it will chop it nicely.

    If you just want to use a machine to chop the cilantro I recommend a small food processor since processors donโ€™t need any liquid to work.  

    How to store cilantro that hasnโ€™t been cut?

    Chop about ยผ inch off the bottom of the stems from the bunch of cilantro. Then place in a mason jar filled halfway with water and refrigerate.

    This will help them continue to take in water and stay fresh longer.

    cilantro in mason jar with water
    Store your uncut cilantro in a little water to keep it fresh longer!

    Is coriander the same as cilantro?

    In the US, coriander is the dried seed from the cilantro plant, and cilantro is the plantโ€™s leaves and stem. However, everywhere else in the world the leaves and stems are called coriander and the seeds are simply coriander seeds.

    If you like this article check out how to cut cantaloupe and how to chop parsley!

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    cilantro chopped on cutting board with knife featured image

    How to cut cilantro?

    Cutting cilantro is really easy and will have your dishes tasting fresh and delicious. In three steps you will have delicious chopped cilantro!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin
    Author: Lisa Killian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients

    • 1 bunch Cilantro
    • Knife to cut cilantro

    Instructions

    • Remove any leaves and stems that have gone bad- sometimes there are none and sometimes there are a few. They will be brown or black in color.
      clilantro bunch on cutting board before being cut
    • Cut off the long stems. The stems are the parts that donโ€™t have any leaves coming off of them. They are thicker and are typically โ…” rds of the bunch.
      cutting off cilantro stems
    • Chop cilantro to desired consistency. Start at the top of the cilantro bunch and with a rocking motion chop the cilantro from top to bottom, then from side to side. Repeat until chopped to your desired consistency.
      finly chopping cilantro leaves

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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