Those delicate little green leaves that taste so good in our European and Mexican flavored dishes is the fresh leaf part of the coriander plant, also called cilantro.

Because you can eat the stem and the leaves, dried and fresh, it is considered both an herb and a spice. Cilantro is high in dietary fiber, copper, and iron – as well as manganese, which plays an important role in supporting soft tissue and joint health. It’s also high in magnesium and calcium – vital minerals to help athletes maintain muscle and bone growth, and support the nervous system during high-level training.

Other benefits of cilantro include:

• low in calories
• high in antioxidants
• used to purify water
• chelating properties/helps to remove heavy metals from the body
• phytonutrient-dense, including quercetin (which is anti-histamine and great for allergies)

Lastly, cilantro also has anti-microbial properties. During the upcoming winter months when colds are rampant and immunity is down, add cilantro to help fight off infections!

SLOW-COOKER CILANTRO CHICKEN

Put all ingredients into slow cooker for 4-6 hours.
Then pull apart to top on rice or use as your filling in chicken tacos. Enjoy!

• 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1.5-2 cups salsa (see homemade recipe below)
• 1 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• juice of 3 fresh limes (or about 3-4 tbsp)
• pinch of sea salt
• 1-2 diced jalapeno peppers (optional)

 

HOMEMADE CILANTRO SALSA

Chop up in small pieces:

• 2 avocados
• 1 red onion
• 6-8 small tomatoes
• 4-5 cloves fresh garlic
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• sprinkle with sea salt
• drizzle with fresh lime juice to taste