Not a fan of cilantro? Try watercress instead!

Cilantro adds a one-of-a-kind taste, texture, and aroma to popular Latin foods. But some find the impact of cilantro makes it hard for them to embrace the cuisine. In fact, dislike of cilantro may be a genetic condition, that some would say is another step in human evolution. The challenge for those genetic mutants (just kidding) is to find an alternative that doesn’t drop the flavor ante like parsley does. Fortunately, watercress can do just that. It’s delicate, peppery bite will give you the flavor punch you want, without the unpleasant aftertaste that the cilantro-averse try to avoid.

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Coincidence? Absolutely not! Use watercress as a direct replacement for cilantro in any recipe. Your cilantro-dodging family and friends will thank you for it, and you will see that bowl of guac disappear before it has a chance to turn brown. It works just as well in dishes from avocado soup to enchiladas, or in sauces from chimichurri to salsa verde. Save a little watercress for the following morning as well. Add it to an omelette or a smoothie to help cure that post-Cinco de Mayo hangover!

Take our challenge this Cinco de Mayo and use watercress in place of cilantro. If you want to have some fun, don’t tell your guests and see if they notice the difference…although you may need to let on to the cilantro fearful. In addition to adding great flavor, watercress delivers great nutritional value. Let us know how it goes, and for more ideas on watercress substitutions check out our video.