Cilantro - Chinese Parsley -Coriandrum sativum

Cilantro

 

Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, is one of my favorite herbs from the garden. ...especially when it comes to Mexican cooking! When you pot it up, make sure you put it in a large clay pot. Remember that it has "weedy" tendencies, meaning that it grows with abandon. It grows tall. It grows quickly. It enjoys lots of sun, poor soil, and thrives on neglect. I tend to disrespect it and give it organic care. I'm sure if it could roll it's eyes at me, it would.

It must understand that it is simply my nature to do things organically. I like that it's a weed because it readily reseeds itself without your saying WHERE it should grow... I relegate it to a neglected corner of the yard where it can just take over. The tiny flowers attract beneficial wasps... (very tiny ones) that take care of insect pests, saving you the need to use nasty chemicals that can contaminate your soil, water table,  or food!






 

A little water goes a LONG way with this tough little guy.

You can also find it in your nursery under its other name, Chinese Parsley.

CILANTRO is best used fresh. It is a very delicate herb that tends to be very aromatic. It is is exposed to high heat the essential oils evaporate and you are left with only a "green" tasting herb. When you are using it in a hot dish, such as Cilantro Rice, or Menudo, you toss it in at the very last minute just prior to presentation. You want to use the leaves in dishes like Cilantro Rice or Guacamole Dip. You want to course chop the leaves. In soups you can use the stems so long as they are chopped as well.

The spice that comes from the Cilantro Spice is called Coriander. This is used in candies and has the effect of sweetening the breath. It can be ground to use as a flavor additive in your cooking for that "secret" ingredient that most don't know is in a recipe. Use the Spice sparingly. It CAN over power a dish...

Water this herb lightly when it's in the ground. More if it's in a clay pot. Clay pots tend to dry out quickly, especially if they are on a balcony, exposed to wind and sun...

Pick the herb first thing in the morning and put the stems in a clean glass of water put an open plastic sandwich bag over the herb and glass to store it in the refrigerator... water the plant deeply if you harvest more than half of the plant.

I hope these tips have helped you grown your own Cilantro. It is one of THE premier herbs used in Mexican Cooking.

Enjoy your garden. Enjoy your Kitchen...
¡Buen Provecho!