Benefits and usage of Cilantro / Coriander. Healthy Chopped Salad Recipe

It grows wild in Western Asia and Southern Europe,but this herbs is traced back to 6000 years BC in the Egypt caves of Tutankhamen. This find proves that Ancient Egyptians used to cultivate this herbs for their healing benefits and the use of the oil extracts.  

The whole plant is edible but the fresh leaf and the dried seeds is traditionally used for cooking. A compound found in the leaves and seeds has been found to have antibacterial effect against Salmonella. It has a high antioxidant content and some test shows a great value in detoxing heavy metals from the human body. That's why we like to start using this tender herb in anything more then garnishing dishes. Adding Cilantro to salads will enhance the fresh like flavor and leaving out sodium, fat or calories. Every time I make a chopped salad, I use it together with basil leaves, Spinach and Lettuce making my salads incredibly fresh and tasty. Using this herbs I overload the salad with antioxidants, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc.  Also the Cilantro has a high amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Chopped Salad  

I'm the kind of person that salads are not my first option. As you can tell I prefer to eat meat or pasta as a meal, but over the years I realize that as we get older is a little more difficult to digest meat and I had no choice to start eating some sort of greens for my own good. That's when I start diving into the salads as a meal. My first thought is I have to eat a lot of it to fulfill my cravings. But over time I realize that filling full is more a state of mind than really being full.  No wonder why in Europe the size of the meals are smaller than American meals. There is a habit in all of us, we have to eat everything that is on our plate, right?  Am I wrong? or my dad was the only one telling me to eat everything until the plate was empty?

Now that I'm older I eat just what I need, to not overload my digestive system.  ( but still sometimes I end up cleaning the plate ) 

This chopped salad has few more things ( with a purpose ) than those at the restaurant. I convine few tasty ingredients and a great way to have an intake of goodness to your body.  Of course if you don't like any ingredient you can leave it out, but as it is, is a super intake of natural health to your precious body.

Romaine Lettuce ( antioxidant )

Sweet Basil  ( Vitamin K, A, B6, and Folate, Beta-Carotene )

Fresh Baby Spinach  (  Vitamin K, A, C, Folate acid, Manganese, Magnesium, Iron, B2, in another words Energy for your body )

Cilantro / Coriander  ( absorb and eliminate Heavy metals from your body )

Italian Parsley  ( Antioxidant, Iron, Folic acid, Vitamins K, C, A, also it helps to detox your kidneys )

Fresh Tomato  ( Vitamin C, flavor )

Kalamata Olives  ( Healthy Fats, Monounsaturated fats, Iron, Calcium,  Fiber, and helps to reduce Cholesterol and adds a great deals of flavor and saltiness )

Red Onions  ( Antioxidant, anti-bacteria, anti-inflammatory properties, Quercetin and Bioflavonoid both are good for fighting free radicals, Chromium  )

White Mushrooms  ( Fiber, Protein, Vitamin C, Folate, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin D, Thiamin, Potato, Copper, Selenium, Vitamin B6 )

Avocado  (  Monounsaturated Fat,  Vitamin B, K, C, E, Potassium, helps to lower Cholesterol )

For meat lovers I used

Chicken Breast (  Protein, Calories )

Feta Cheese  (  Sodium, Carbohydrates, Vitamin B2, B6, B12, Selenium, Phosphorus, Alpha-Lactalbumin protein that is anti-bacterial and anti-tumor properties )

Now I wonder why I like this salad so much. With all this benefits and the incredible taste that all this ingredients brings to your mouth. It should be a must for everyone at least once a week. 

Seeds  

The seeds can be used grounded or whole for cooking in many cultures. Also the seeds are used for pickling vegetables and something more interesting is that certain Belgian beers uses Coriander seeds to brew some styles of beers where they add it with orange peels to add citrus character to it. In Germany is used to make sausages, in India is used for chutneys.

This is a annual plant that can grow very easy in a small pot by the sunny window of your house.  Grow your own food or vegetables in your house and save money and eat healthy. Nothing you"ll grow in your house is more fulfilling and satisfying for your soul then this. Share the love...