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Spice of the Month – May

May 17, 2023

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bunch of fresh coriander or cilantro on a wooden table

History of Cilantro:

The name cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander and coriander comes from the Ancient Greek word koriannon. The fact that the herb is widely used in Mexican cuisine has led to the widespread adoption of the Spanish word in North America.
Cilantro is one of the oldest spices/herbs in existence. Coriander seeds have been found in Israeli caves that date back 8,000 years as well as in the tomb of King Tut. The herb was brought to the Americas in the 1600s and since then it has taken on a prominent role in dishes from the American Southwest, Mexico and throughout Latin America.

The flavor of cilantro is highly controversial. For some, it tastes bright and fresh with the tang of citrus; for others, it tastes like soap. The phobia of cilantro is actually a well-studied phenomenon with research indicating that it may have a genetic source, meaning that people may be genetically inclined to like or dislike the herb.
Cilantro is known throughout parts of Europe and India as a healing plant. Its reputed health benefits include:

  • Controlling blood sugar and the production of free radicals.
  • The antimicrobial properties of the volatile oils in its leaves.
  • Phytonutrients in the volatile oils in its leaves. Those phytonutrients include limonene, borneol, and camphor.
  • Dodecenal which is a compound found to be effective for killing salmonella. Dodecenal is found in both the seeds and leaves of the plant in equal amounts.
  • It is rich in vitamin A. A 1/4 cup of cilantro provides 9 percent of the daily recommended intake of this vitamin. Vitamin A helps to maintain kidney function and as well as retina function.
  • It is rich in vitamin K, which helps your blood to coagulate thus preventing excessive bleeding.

As one of the main flavors in Mexican cuisine, cilantro is essential for salsas and guacamole. You can use it as a final addition to dishes as a flavorful garnish or it can be cooked as it is in Mexican classics like arroz con pollo.

It is also used in Mediterranean dishes like pestos where there is a long tradition for the use of cilantro than there is for basil.

Cilantro is popular in Indian cuisine; the name for it in Hindi is dhania. In India, cilantro may be used in chana masala, aloo gobi, and vegetable samosas. The herb also features in various dishes from the Sichuan region of China. It is often used in soups and as a garnish.

Pick up the spice, along with a recipe at one of the Coffey County Library branches.

To receive the materials, please register online at https://bit.ly/CoffeyCountySpiceoftheMonth, by scanning the QR code below, or drop by any of the Coffey County Library branches.

Spice Of The Month Signup QR Code

 

Sponsored by

K-State Research And Extension Coffey County Logo

Details

Date:
May 17, 2023
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Venue

All Branches
Coffey County KS United States

Organizer

Central Office
Phone
620-364-2010
Email
mdavies@cclibks.org
View Organizer Website