Cilantro Plant
Facts About The Cilantro Plant
The cilantro plant is actually considered to be the leaves and stems of the Coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum). This annual herb comes from the family Apiaceae, which also includes carrots, and is related to parsley. It is also referred to as Chinese parsley. The cilantro plant is used in many different types and styles of cooking and even has some medicinal purposes depending on different cultures. It is one of the oldest herbs cultivated by humans and has been around for several thousand years dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, China and India. It has a truly unique taste that isn’t for everyone, but adds an unmistakable flavor to any dish.
The Coriander plant is native to southeastern Europe, southwestern Asia and northern Africa. It was introduced to the South Americas by the Spanish conquistadors where it was more commonly called by its Spanish name, cilantro. Use of cilantro leaves in cooking and recipes is more common in the North and South Americas than it is in Europe. There is some evidence that certain people have a gene that allows them to taste different bitters, and that cilantro flavoring is disliked by many people because of this gene. There is no real hard evidence to support why some people dislike cilantro, but based on the vast amount that it is used in cooking worldwide, there are many people that love it.
Fresh leaves from the cilantro plant and dried seeds (which are often referred to as coriander) are used in a wide array of cooking styles including: chutneys, curries, salads, salsas, breads, guacamole and many southwestern recipes just to name a few. Cilantro has a citrus taste that adds a great deal of flavor to anything it is added to. It is most commonly found in Asian, Caribbean and Mexican cooking recipes. Coriander seeds are used as a spice and some people even eat the plant’s roots for their intense citrus taste. It is best to use the leaves of the cilantro plant fresh as heat removes the taste, and freezing or drying removes the aroma.
Different cultures also use cilantro for medicinal purposes. For centuries it had been used for aiding in digestive problems and as an appetite stimulate. It may also have use as a fungicide and as a tool to lower cholesterol. Cilantro is high in Vitamin C and may be an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety).
It is easy to grow your own cilantro plant for use in the kitchen. Plants can be started directly from seeds, but it is best to help them to germinate by crushing the hard husk that contains the seeds and soaking them in water for 24-48 hours. After preparing the seeds and allowing them to dry, they can be planted about ¼ of an inch deep into well draining soil. Seeds can be started indoors and be transplanted outdoors, or can start direct outdoors after the last frost. Once young cilantro plants have reached a height of about 2 inches, it is best to clip them down to about 3-4 inches apart. Keeping the plants close together will help them grow better. Cilantro plants enjoy sunlight, but not high temperatures. The best conditions are around 75 degrees F or lower and with partial sunlight. They will also grow well in pots. Prune your cilantro plants often to prevent them from going to seed and harvest about 1/3 of the stem once a week to eat. Planting seeds every two weeks will make sure that you have fresh cilantro for cooking throughout the entire summer.
Cilantro and coriander are one of the oldest cultivated spices in the world. People for thousands of years have recognized the taste benefits of adding cilantro to recipes and the medical uses of the herb as well. Easy to grow and delicious, growing cilantro herbs in your garden will provide tons of fresh cilantro leaves for all of your cooking needs.