Various vegetables and herbs have edible stems that can be used like the rest of the plant. In some cases, the stems provide a richer taste than the leaves, and numerous recipes prefer using the stems.
It may sadden you every time you discard the stems of your parsley and cilantro and wonder if they are edible.This kind of delicacy was also mentioned in another article of mine
The stems of parsley and cilantro are edible, both raw and cooked. Parsley and cilantro stems are popular ingredients in soups, stews, fish, and other dishes. Excessive consumption of cilantro may cause flu-like symptoms and, in rear cases, cause an allergic reaction that can lead to side effects.
In recent years many people have found the explosive flavor that cilantro and parsley stems add to their recipes. These two herbs are unique; the stems are a great addition to Mexican, Vietnamese, and Indian dishes. If you are tired of troughing away the stems, you may be discarding the best part.
Can I Eat Parsley And Cilantro Stems?
If you love Pesto sauce or enjoy a fresh, colorful salad, you know that parsley stems are a great addition to both. Parsley stems are edible, although their leaves are not as bitter and are a much better choice for most food recipes. Fresh parsley stems are great to spruce up a plate without fear that it is harmful if you take a bite.
Cilantro, also called Chinese parsley, is known for its citrusy taste, and its stem provides a light and flavorsome spice to various dishes. The seeds of Cilantro are better known as coriander and have a nutty and spicy flavor. Cilantro stems are edible, and often the stem and leaves are chopped to make delicious sauces that complement any cookout.
How To Use Parsley
Many of the best chefs and seasoned cooks swear by parsley stems and believe that almost every recipe worth its weight needs it. The spicy vegetable taste of parsley is key to a delicious soup, and when you make a pot of beans, it will need something until you add parsley stems.
If you love frying fish, you will find Parsley stems a great addition, not to mention the richness it gives if you use it in fish stock. Parsley stems are often used to flavor oil that works well when combined as a salad dressing. For those cold winter nights, it will complete your pot of soup with a savory and subtle aroma and instantly enrich it with its distinct taste.
Cutting the stems close to the leaves works well in bread crumbs and adds a herby and spicy taste. If you love a good Italian salsa verde or pesto, adding some chopped Parsley stems to boost its freshness will create a glorious flavor and that delightful crunch in a salad.
How To Use Cilantro
Cilantro is versatile and important in Mexican dishes like lime rice and sauces. Cilantro brings out the flavor of spicy food, and that is why you will find many Indian dishes and Vietnamese recipes that include it. One of the cilantro herbs benefits is that it works interchangeably with parsley, but certain cuisines need the taste that only cilantro can provide.
Cilantro’s stems unique and flavorsome taste gives stir-fry that explosive factor and guarantees to make a big difference in your lamb, beef, and fish curry. Cilantro is not always the main dish spice, but its absence in a marinade, salad dressing, and many souses is quickly missed. Cilantro works well as a spice to a dish, even when you add it a second time raw onto the dish to give it that extra flavor.
When you buy parsley and cilantro, chop the stems and use them in almost any dish, and best of all, you can freeze the stems to get a little longer life out of them. You will fall in love with the stems and their enormous flavor in many dishes; add some cilantro or parsley leaves to round off the flavor.
What Happens If You Eat Raw Parsley?
Because most people remove the parsley leaves and discard the stems, it leads to a misperception that you cannot it because it does not taste nice or may be inedible.
Parsley stems are edible raw and cooked, but they can be a little bitter and is best used sparingly and with caution so that it does not run the dish or overpower the flavor. Parsley stems provide much nutritional value even when chopped with their leaves for a salad or salsa.
Enjoying some raw parsley should definitely be on your list of things to try, and if you find removing the stems from the leaves a little time-consuming, you can chop the leaves and stems together. Removing parsley leaves can be a time-consuming process. As a tip, if you are new to parsley stems, there are different ways to chop them, and some methods are better than others.
Are Coriander Stems Poisonous?
Cilantro, also known as coriander, is safe to eat unless you know that you have a bad reaction to the herb, but even if you do not, eating too much of it is a bad idea. Here is a list of potential side effects you may experience if you have an allergic reaction to coriander:
- Hives
- Swelling in the facial area
- Inhibits blood clotting and can cause bleeding if you have a bleeding tendency or clotting disorders.
- Swelling in the throat
- Stomach pain that often leads to diarrhea
- It sometimes causes darkened skin.
- Although it does not count as a side effect if you carry the OR6A2 gene, cilantro may taste soapy.
Few people are allergic to coriander, but it is wise to eat it in moderation, even if you’re not. Studies have shown that eating too much cilantro can cause an upset stomach and produce flu-like symptoms. Consuming more than 200 grams of cilantro extract may result in stomach pain and excessive vomiting, leading to diarrhea and, in lesser cases, gas.
Can Parsley Be Used For Soup?
Parsley is a versatile flavoring herb; almost no soup is complete without it. Various soup recipes use parsley; some suggest using the stem and leaves to boost the flavor. In some dishes like Carrot & Parsley soup, parsley is the main ingredient and adds a unique and distinct taste, and in some soups, it is used as a sprinkling on top to give the soup some color.
Conclusion
Cilantro and parsley stems are edible, and in some recipes, it is a must to provide a unique flavor to a dish. The stem and leaves of parsley are widely used in many dishes, and the same with cilantro, but excessive use of cilantro, also known as coriander, may cause flu-like symptoms. Parsley and cilantro stems are often discarded, but they are edible and worth experimenting with in your next recipe.
