While I was at the Traditional Community Kitchen tour at the Socrates Greenmarket last weekend, I stopped at the El Poblano Farm stand. They sell an awesome array of traditional Mexican products that they grow over on Staten Island. They gave me a taste – it is a bit citrusy with flavors reminiscent of cilantro, with a tiny bit of bitterness. It tasted wild. Really interesting.
I learned from a post by Homesick Texan, that papalo is an ancient herb found throughout Mexico, South America, and parts of the American Southwest. Some believe it has properties that help lower blood pressure.
The farmer from El Poblano Farm said he uses it in guacamole – I’d consider mixing it with cilantro for that and fresh salsa, as it is quite pungent. I was really happy to have discovered another new-to-me plant!
