Culantro and Cilantro Have Different Leaf Shapes

Culantro / Sawtooth Coriander — ผักชีฝรั่ง (phak-chi-fa-rang) — Eryngium foetidum.

Culantro, also called sawtooth coriander, is a Thai herb whose long, saw-edged leaves carry the same bright, cilantro-like aroma. The leaves are the edible part. Early lab research has examined its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, and it was traditionally used for fevers. Its listed nutrients include vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and iron. Vitamin C helps the body build collagen, supports normal immune function, and works as an antioxidant. Potassium plays a role in normal blood pressure and in muscle and nerve function. Calcium builds and maintains strong bones and teeth, while iron sits at the center of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the blood. In a minced-pork salad, chopped culantro is tossed with warm minced pork, lime, and toasted rice powder, then eaten with raw cabbage and sticky rice. In an Isan-style clay-pot hot pot, torn culantro and Thai basil go into a pork broth with glass noodles and meat. One practical tip: culantro's vitamin C helps the body absorb the plant's own iron when the fresh leaves are eaten with a meal. It grows well in shade, so plant it under larger trees like mango or jackfruit.

Laab Moo — ลาบหมู (laab-moo)
Jim Jum — จิ้มจุ่ม (jim-jum)

Nutrition data: Singh et al. 2021, Frontiers in Nutrition, DOI:10.3389/fnut.2021.590978

Food and nutrients

Rich in: vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron

Research context

Culantro shows antibacterial & anti-inflammatory activity in lab studies; traditionally used for fevers — Fitoterapia, 2011 (review)

Sources

Source: Paul JHA, Seaforth CE, Tikasingh T (2011). Eryngium foetidum L.: A review. Fitoterapia 82(3):302-308. PMID 21062639

Narration transcript

Opening

It smells like cilantro turned up loud, though culantro is a different plant — with long, saw-toothed leaves and a much sturdier bite than the soft cilantro sprig. Culantro — ผักชีฝรั่ง, pak-chee-fa-rang. You eat those tough leaves, chopped raw into a spicy minced-pork salad or torn into an Isan hot pot.

Laab Moo (Thai Minced Pork Salad) (ลาบหมู)

In laab moo, chopped culantro leaves are tossed with warm minced pork, lime juice, and toasted rice powder, then served with raw cabbage and sticky rice.

Jim Jum (Isan-Style Hot Pot) (จิ้มจุ่ม)

In jim jum, an Isan-style clay-pot hot pot, torn culantro and Thai basil go into a pork broth with glass noodles and meat, served hot with a chili-tamarind dip.

Nutrition summary

Culantro contains — iron at 47% of the daily value, fiber at 34%, vitamin C at 19%, and calcium at 11%.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is used to build collagen and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Potassium

Potassium helps with normal fluid balance and muscle function.

Calcium

Calcium is needed to maintain normal bones and teeth, supports normal muscle and nerve function, and contributes to normal blood clotting.

Iron

Iron is part of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in your blood, and it supports normal energy metabolism.

Closing

Handy at the table: culantro's own vitamin C helps your body take up the iron in the same meal. It's one of the few herbs that thrives in shade, so tuck it under a mango or jackfruit tree where other greens would sulk. Follow Longevity Biome, and LIKE this video for regular updates.

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