Wild Cilantro (Culantro Silvestre)
Culantro, as it’s called in Spanish grows wild here like a dandelion, but without the flower. Many people have it growing around their houses.
The leaves are broad and serrated, a bit sharp even, and they’re much thicker than the cilantro we’re used to buying in the stores, but it tastes identical.
Because it’s thicker and can be sharp, it’s a good idea to mince it very fine when using it.
This is a very hardy plant that behaves like a weed. Once you have it growing, it will re-seed itself and spread, given the chance. In the photo shown here, it doesn’t have the seed stalk yet. Once it matures, a stalk will shoot up from the center and branch out in to a bunch of seed carriers.
Every house in Costa Rica should have a bit of this since it’s so easy to grow and tasty too.
Side note: Some people really hate cilantro, and this is genetic, and a recessed gene. So, two parents who both love cilantro, if they have the cilantro-hating gene, can produce a child who doesn’t like cilantro if both parents end up giving that recessed gene.
