How to Chop Parsley
Parsley is one of those leafy herbs that can really turn a simple pasta into a more fresh robust dish; a roasted chicken becomes even more vibrant with a garnish of parsley on top. Fresh herbs are a great way to elevate every dish and add an additional boost of flavor.
As a mom, nothing is more important to me than feeding my family the best possible homemade dishes.
Knowing where my food is coming from and what ingredients are in each dish, means that I know that my family and I are eating the most nourishing food possible.
Part of cooking at home is knowing how to wash, cut, prepare, and store ingredients.
No matter how you use fresh parsley, these tips will help you properly chop up this delicate herb, which is a great addition to any dish.
What is Parsley?
Parsley is a leafy green herb that gives a very earthy herbaceous flavor to your dish.
These power herbs have a very subtle flavor that pairs best with American cuisine such as sauces, salads, chicken, and pasta.
Parsley is most commonly used as a garnish to add a bright pop of color to a dish as well as a fresh herby flavor.
These hearty herbs are probably one of the most versatile herbs and can be put to good use with almost any dish.
What are the Parts of Parsley?
Parsley is made up of leaves and stems. The stems tend to be bitter, so most people prefer to use the leaves in cooking.
What Dishes is Parsley Good For?
Since cut parsley is so versatile, you can use it in a variety of dishes and as a garnish.
I like to top my one pan lemon garlic pasta with parsley to give a bright pop of color and add a touch of bright flavor to the dish.
Parsley is also really great to add on top of roasted potatoes, or my mini meatloaf recipe.
Anytime you need to add a burst of freshness or color to a bland colored dish, parsley is a great go-to herb.
Parsley is great to use in a sauce like chimichurri or gremolata where it adds a really bold bright flavor to meats and roasted vegetables.
Adding some parsley to chicken stock really rounds out the flavor of chicken and dumplings, and adds a bright pop of freshness to the top.
How to Wash Parsley
Washing your herbs is a very important step to remove any dirt, pesticides, or impurities from the leaves.
Clean parsley is important.
The best way is to gently place the herbs in a colander in the sink.
Remove any browned or imperfect leaves and place the pile of parsley in a colander in the sink.
Using a bowl of cold water, rinse the herbs thoroughly being as gentle as possible.
Tips for Chopping Parsley
- Make sure you use a sharp large knife.
- Hold the parsley pile with your free hand.
- Since parsley is a soft, leafy herb you want to chop in a rocking motion with as sharp of a knife as possible and cut to the desired size. Use the tip of the knife as a pivot point.
- You can damage the herb’s delicate stems by sawing the leaves, turning the parsley brown.
- You will want to remove the leaves by gently plucking them from the stem or using your knife to chop the leaves from the stem.
- Once the leaves are removed you want to combine them into a small pile and gently chop the leaves in one direction using a rocking method.
- You will want to go back through the pile of leaves in the opposite direction using the same method until they are finely chopped.
- If you are using your parsley in a sauce or rub, you can save some time by chopping already washed parsley in a food processor. Hold the button for 2-3 seconds at a time until the parsley is chopped to the desired consistency.
- I do not recommend using the food processor if you plan on using the parsley as a garnish, since the blades can damage the leaves and turn the parsley brown.
What Are the Different Varieties of Parsley?
- Flat leaf parsley– This is arguably the most popular and common variety of parsley. This variety has a bright green flat leaf, a strong herbal smell, and a slightly bitter taste. It is the most versatile variety and mostly used as a garnish.
- Curly leaf parsley– This variety has a more mild flavor and a darker green curly leaf. The curly variety is most commonly used in sauces or rubs. Curly parsley is also great to use dried.
How to Chop Parsley in 3 Easy Steps
- Remove the leaves from the stem of washed and dried parsley and combine them into a small tight pile onto a cutting board.
- The easiest way to cut parsley is by using a sharp knife, starting at one end of the pile, and using a small rocking motion in one direction. Keep the knife at a 30 degree angle, with the tip of the knife down on the cutting board as a pivot.
- Turn the leaves a quarter turn and using the same method, chop the leaves until they are finely chopped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parsley stems are edible but tend to be bitter.
If you are using parsley as a garnish it is best to remove the stems to keep the flavor a bit more mild.
The stems can be used in any dish that has a very mild flavor.
It is best to cook the stems to remove some of the bitter flavor.
Holding the bundle of washed parsley upside down, shake off the excess water, and use the blade of a sharp knife at an angle and run down the length of the stem.
You will want to press down hard enough so that the leaves are cut cleanly away from the stems.
You can also delicately pull the leaves from the stems, however, take care not to pull too hard and damage the leaves.
Parsley should be kept cold and stored in the refrigerator for maximum freshness.
You can add 1 to 2 inches of cold water to a jar and place the parsley (stems down) in the jar like how you would store flowers.
Make sure you switch out the water every couple of days, or when the water looks cloudy.
You can also save space by storing cleaned parsley in an airtight container with the parsley covered with a damp paper towel.
Using these methods should keep your parsley fresh for up to a week.
How to Chop Parsley Recipe
How to Chop Parsley Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 large chef's knife
Instructions
- Remove the leaves from the stem of washed and dried parsley and combine them into a small tight pile onto a cutting board.
- The easiest way to cut parsley is by using a sharp knife, starting at one end of the pile, and using a small rocking motion in one direction. Keep the knife at a 30 degree angle, with the tip of the knife down on the cutting board as a pivot.
- Turn the leaves a quarter turn and using the same method, chop the leaves until they are finely chopped.
Notes
- Make sure you use a sharp large knife.
- Since parsley is a soft leafy herb, you want to chop in a rocking motion with as sharp of a knife as possible and cut to the desired size. Use the tip of the knife as a pivot point.
- You can damage the herb’s delicate stems by sawing the leaves, turning the parsley brown.
- You will want to remove the leaves by gently plucking them from the stem or using your knife to chop the leaves from the stem.
- Once the leaves are removed you want to combine them into a small pile and gently chop the leaves in one direction using a rocking method.
- You will want to go back through the pile of leaves in the opposite direction using the same method until they are finely chopped.
- If you are using your parsley in a sauce or rub, you can save some time by chopping already washed parsley in a food processor. Hold the button for 2-3 seconds at a time until the parsley is chopped to the desired consistency.
- I do not recommend using the food processor if you plan on using the parsley as a garnish, since the blades can damage the leaves and turn the parsley brown.
