In English
Recao is the Puerto Rican name for culantro (Eryngium foetidum), also known as sawtooth coriander or Puerto Rican coriander. It is a key herb in recaíto and sofrito.
It smells and tastes like cilantro but much stronger. The long, serrated leaves are a bit tough, so they are used finely chopped or blended.
Blend it with garlic, onion, ají dulce and green pepper to make recaíto or sofrito, the flavor base for Puerto Rican beans, rice and stews. Culantro and cilantro are different plants, though many recipes use both.