What is the greatest burrito ingredient? [Think Tank]

Cilantro—Mlawski

Sweet, a little tangy, leafy but not in a bad way… cilantro truly is the king of herbs.  By adding a burst of flavor right where it is needed, cilantro (to paraphrase The Big Lebowski) really brings a burrito together.

Consider a burrito from the best of the burrito franchises, Chipotle.  Although cilantro, on its own, is not a choice from one of those silver bins at your local Chipotle store, it is nevertheless a vital ingredient of both the guacamole and the cilantro-lime rice.  What would cilantro-lime rice be without the cilantro?  Lime rice?  Ese, please.

Cilantro is arguably the most important flavor in both the Mexican and Indian food traditions, which themselves are arguably the two greatest cuisines the world has ever seen.  (French?  Feh.  Does French cuisine have a dish as beautiful as this:

Or this?

Or this?

I doubt it.  And what do these three dishes have in common?  Cilantro.)

Cilantro is also a common garnish in Chinese, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and African dishes.  So let’s be honest here.  Those of you who hate cilantro are probably racist.

But Overthinkingit.com is a pop culture blog, not a foodie blog, so let’s talk pop culture.  Lately, the Internet has come out AGAINST CILANTRO.  The second hit on a Google search of the word “cilantro” after the wikipedia article is a site called “I Hate Cilantro!”  (My antivirus program won’t let me open the site.  Evidently AVG is another ticked off cilantro fan.  Here’s another cilantro-hating website that my computer will let me open.)  Lately, it seems everywhere I look, someone on the Internet is raging against cilantro.  Cilantro, possibly the best herb in the history of herbs!

I can’t believe that a majority of people on the Internet hate cilantro.  (Unless a majority of people on the Internet are racists.)  So I speak now to you, the silent majority, the cilantro lovers out there.  Let loose your song!  Let your words ring out from the rooftops and the Mexican restaurants: We Love Cilantro!  Cilantro is King!