The first time I tasted cilantro was an unforgettable experience. I was in Boston and I went to an unbelievable taqueria, the kind where they make everything before your eyes out of amazingly fresh ingredients. When they asked if I wanted some on my burrito, I had to taste it first. It was amazing. Next I created my first cilantro pesto and I was hooked.
The cilantro plant, which can grow up to 3 feet tall, has been gaining in popularity for years in Tex-Mex cuisine. If you only go by appearance, you may believe that parsley and cilantro are the same, however; once you taste the sweet muskiness of cilantro you’ll know there is no comparison. Cilantro is the name of the foliage, which has wonderful pale pink flowers, but the herb that comes from the seeds is known as coriander.
You can get your cilantro from your local nursery, but I like to begin mine from seeds. As an annual, you’ll need to start each growing season with fresh plants. I like to grow my seeds in late winter and line the containers up on my kitchen windowsill so I do not miss the small sprouts that will pop up in 7 to 10 days.
Cilantro herbs thrive on moist, rich soil, so it is best to plant them in a raised bed after the weather gets sunny. If your climate gets too hot, keep in mind that your cilantro does like some light shade in the warmest weather. Don’t forget that if your cilantro gets too much sun or too much heat it can turn bitter.
About nine weeks or so after you plant your cilantro, you will have plants with pretty lavender, white or pale pink blossoms. If you want to skip growing in pots, just wait until it gets warmer and plant the seeds outside. After you plant your seeds the clear skies and nice weather along with a little rain can turn your seeds into sprouts in less than two weeks.
For the strongest flavors, try your fresh cilantro in your summer meals. Just snip off a few leaves and add the whole thing to your dish or dice it up and add to your tacos or Mexican chicken.
Remember to dry some cilantro for the fall, winter and spring dinners. The best way to ensure that the leaves can have a heavy concentration of oils is to lop them off right before the herb blooms. You will get good results if you dry this herb on a drying rack. Keep in mind that you will need more of the dried cilantro than you will the fresh because the taste will not be as concentrated.
The very best method to harvest the coriander seed is by hanging it upside down in a paper bag to dry. Once the seeds have dried, you can discharge them from the pod by rolling them between your hands. Then you will want to freeze the seeds for a minimum of two days and then store them in a cool, dark location.
Because it is coriander is a curry spice, so the seeds can be crushed into a powder and used in baked dishes, soups, stews and casseroles.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Herb Garden Plants. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.