How do you keep coriander fresh?

bigmuffins

We use a lot of coriander and I grow it as well as buying from asian supermarket.
What I do with bought coriander is:
remove elastic bands/wrapping and cut off the bottom inch or so depending on condition.
Run a sink half full of cold water and chuck in the coriander and swoosh around to remove the dirt. Drain and then run another half sink full and leave for about 10 mins or so. Then remove from water and leave in colander to drain, picking out any manky bits as you do so.
Then either leave in fridge in a stayfresh bag or tupperware box if using fresh or spread out to dry on clean tea towel. Then chop coarsely and put into tupperware boxes and freeze. Can put into plastic bags and freeze - easier to remove the amount you need to add to dish. I don't add water as like to have it 'loose'. Just chuck in a handful into curry just a few mins before ready to serve and the heat of the dish is enough to defrost the leaves. Also chuck in with some eggs and chopped green chillies and make spicy scrambled eggs or omelettes - yum!

We also grow loads - get packet of coriander seeds (ones from asian supermarkets do fine and MUCH cheaper than seed packets!)
Take a handful and put into paper or plastic bag and gently roll with rolling pin to split the seeds in half (makes germination quicker). Don't over do the rolling as don't want to crush the seeds! :rotfl:
Then sow in pots or in garden. Will have to protect from slugs and snails though as they love the stuff!
If you do this in succession, you should have loads over the year until it gets too cold. If any plants run to seed - can still use green seeds in cooking or salads (crush in mortar & pestle - smells divine!) or freeze green seeds or dry to use in cooking.

quick recipe for mint, garlic, coriander and green chilli chutney:
handful each of mint & coriander
couple of cloves of garlic
couple of green chillies
salt to taste
Place in mini chopper and whiz together or pound in mortar & pestle (traditional way!) and serve with curries, naans, parathas, chapattis or anything that takes your fancy!
Can be frozen in ice cube trays.
Can mix with some natural yoghurt to make raita if you like.

HTH
:beer:

Frugalista

Wow! Thanks for that bigmuffins :T.

mathsus

I buy the big bunches of coriander & parsley from the Asian supermarket too. I find nothing beats keeping them in a 'lock & lock' container. I've got two long, 2 litre, oblong ones - think giant bacon? - which came in one of those mixed sets from QVC years ago. They are the perfect shape & size & even coriander keeps for a week & is still pick-at-able (IYKWIM) - not slimy, but some leaves going black- after 3 weeks. I decant all bagged salads/ rocket into lock & locks as soon as I get them home & find they keep for much longer. Haven't thought to try the stayfresh bags though. Duh!

More4me

If you are going to store them in a airtight container make sure the coriander are dry and place them between folded kitchen paper.
For drying large quantities tie them in a tea towel or similar and into washing machine on spin cycle. Job done.

Frugalista

Have just got back from shopping clutching a new "lock n' lock" and a big bunch of coriander :rotfl:- will let you know how long it keeps (if I don't eat it all first) .

mathsus

And I should have said keep them in the fridge in your lock & lock.