Cilantro is part of the Apiaceae family as is carrots, celery and parsley. It is widely used in Indian, Middle eastern, Mexican and Asian meals. It took me a while to realize that cilantro and coriander leaf are one and the same thing. Cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander. People say you either loathe cilantro or love cilantro. I definitely fall in the category of loving the vibrant, peppery and citrusy tones of cilantro. I use coriander in a multitude of my recipes. Not only does it add color and flavor, cilantro or coriander leaf has health benefits too. Apart from the flavor it imparts to soups, salads and curries, it is a great source of antioxidants. It prevents cellular damage caused by free radicals. Cilantro extract reduces pain and inflammation and has anti fungal properties. It contains Vitamin C, vitamin A along with potassium, manganese and folate. This chutney can be used in curries when you do not have cilantro in hand or served with appetizers and snacks like pakoras, chaat, samosas and dahi vadas. I have a great way to prolong the life of the chutney below so keep reading @sarchakra
PREP TIME: 10 mins
COOK TIME: 0
YIELDS: Serves or makes 5
Ingredients
- Coriander leaf 3 cups, chopped
- Green chilies 4-5
- Ginger 1 inch, grated
- Garlic 4 cloves, cut into pieces
- Cumin seeds 2 tsp, crushed
- Sea salt
- Sugar 2 tsp
- Apple ¼ cut into slices
- Lemon juice ½, juiced
Method
In a blender add chopped coriander leaves, green chilies, garlic, and mix. Add in grated ginger, sea salt, water, apple, sugar, lemon juice and blitz. Add apple slices and blend to a smooth paste.
Notes
If using the chutney fresh, keep it in the fridge. It will stay good for up to 5 days. If storing for later, pour in ice trays and freeze. Once frozen take the cubes out and store in a ziplock bag. This way it lasts for months. Whenever you need it, pop however many cubes you need and it will defrost within minutes. If you are in a rush, pop them in a ziplock and soak in hot water for 5 mins and they will be ready for use. It can’t get any more convenient than that, right?








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