Mexican Coriander

(Eryngium foetidum)

Also known as sawtooth coriander, Mexican coriander is a fabulous alternative to regular coriander, the latter which can be very hard to grow in warm climates (if you do try to grow regular coriander, try in winter, and embrace the flowers when it bolts!). Mexican coriander has a similar flavour but is in fact, not related.

It has long leaves that are quite spikey on the edges so I recommend growing it in part shade, so the leaves are less tough and the spikes a bit softer. Don’t let this put you off though because it’s a super hardy little plant that will happily self seed (though not to weedy proportions). When the plant sends it’s central flower spike up you can chop it off to prolong the foliage harvest, but I let mine go and self seed and then I always have a few plants on the go. The seed is quite fine and will happily germinate as long as it’s damp and warm.

Use Mexican coriander just as you would regular coriander - add it fresh at the end of cooking, though as the leaves are tougher I chop it finely. It is fantastic on eggs on toast for breakfast - reminds me of our honeymooon breakfasts in Fiji!

full sun - part shade, moist soil