It's over in no time at all, the aroma-rich coriander season. So that the spicy pleasure continues after the last harvest, expert chefs freeze the fresh leaves without further ado. Here we explain how it works extra gently.

How to freeze cilantro stem by stem

During freezing, the tissue cells of cilantro lose their structure, leaving the herb with a mushy consistency after thawing. The physical law that is effective here cannot be abolished, but it can be mitigated a little with a trick. The following instructions show how the coriander stalks do not stick together and can be removed individually:

  • Clean the coriander under running water immediately after harvesting
  • dry on a kitchen towel or grid
  • Spread the stalks out on a baking sheet without touching each other
  • Pre-freeze in the quick-freeze compartment of the freezer

If the stems with the leaves are frozen hard, they are transferred to freezer bags and stored in the freezer to save space. This allows them to be removed individually to act as a condiment in soups or salsa.

Freeze in no time in a bag - that's how it works

If you want to save yourself the detour via the quick freezer, freeze coriander in bunches. After washing, the bundles of herbs are dabbed as dry as possible with a cloth. Stuffed in a sturdy freezer bag, they go into the deep freeze. The bunches of coriander can be kept here for 6 months. To prepare, open the bag and break off a piece to add to the hot dish.

Freeze coriander oil paste - the delicious version

The soggy consistency of cilantro after thawing is unavoidable. So why not make a virtue of necessity? In the following recipe, after freezing, a delicious coriander paste is added to the kitchen pot. That is how it goes:

  • Harvest and wash the coriander leaves
  • dry carefully so that the paste does not water down
  • Place in food processor and chop
  • while the device is active, add 60 milliliters of olive oil for every 100 grams of coriander
  • either use another cooking oil or just water

First fill the finished paste into the compartments of an ice cube tray and freeze everything. So that the bowl is not occupied for months, remove the coriander cubes and fill them in a freezer box. Label before final freezing and consume within 3 months.

tips and tricks

No freezer in the house or no time to freeze? Then you don't have to do without spicy coriander enjoyment in winter. Just plant Vietnamese coriander in a pot, because this plant has the ability to overwinter indoors. In a warm, sunny location, the herbal plant consistently provides fresh leaves with a lovely coriander aroma.

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The garden journal freshness ABC

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Vegetable garden