Growing and Cooking With Herbs: Cilantro

I love cilantro!  Especially mixed with fresh salsa topping fish tacos!  It also has some amazing health benefits too!   This is a picture of my cilantro I planted last fall.  It had only come up maybe an inch before the weather got cold and the days became shorter and stopped growing.  As the snow covered the ground during the winter it helped to insulate the little cilantro leaves just enough to protect it from the hard cold temperatures we had.

Cilantro is known for being an effective toxic metal cleanser! It is a powerful herb with natural cleansing properties. The chemical compounds in cilantro bind to toxic metals and loosen them from the tissue. Many people suffering from mercury exposure report a reduction in re-occurring feelings of disorientation after consuming large and regular amounts of cilantro over an extended period. Make sure the cilantro you use is organic, otherwise it may have already pulled those toxins into the plant!  The best way to know for sure is to grow it yourself or buy from a reliable organic source!  Cilantro also has strong antioxidant properties, has been known to aid in improving sleep and also has very strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. 

I often get the question, "How can I make my cilantro last a little longer in the garden? It always seems to bolt quickly."  It can bolt quickly, especially when the temperatures become warmer.  I plant my cilantro seeds (coriander) every two weeks so I am constantly harvesting throughout the growing season. It also reseeds itself very easily if you let it flower and allow the flowers to dry and produce seed.  The seeds you sow in the spring will produce more seed from mature plants.  As they drop to the ground you may find new little cilantro plants start to come up in the fall and even the following spring.  Cilantro grows well in rich, well draining soil and does not like to be removed once it has been planted either by direct seed or transplanting.  It prefers full sun, but will grow in some shade too.  Sow the seeds 1/2" deep and thin every 4-6 inches.  When using cilantro for cooking, use the young leaves that are broad and shiny.  They tend to be less bitter and add incredible flavor to many dishes!  Here are a few of my favorite recipes using cilantro!

Eat the entire bowl all by yourself good guacamole!

Southwest Black Bean Salad

Southwest Quinoa Salad with Avocado