Can you substitute Thai basil for basil?
Yes and no. Yes it will work technically, but the flavors are pretty different and so your pesto will taste very different (I find Thai basil more licorice flavored).
Can you use regular basil in Thai cooking?
No problem! Some recipes call for Thai basil, a pungent variety that can be hard to find in grocery stores. To duplicate its flavor, use common “Italian” basil and add a few fresh mint sprigs to the recipe.
What is similar to Thai Basil?
Sweet basil a.k.a. Italian basil
This Mediterranean herb is arguably the most popular herb in the western world and is used for everything from Italian marinara sauces to pesto. It also belongs to the same family as Thai basil and thus shares much of the flavor and nutritional value.
What does Thai basil taste like?
Widely used throughout Southeast Asia, its flavor, described as anise- and licorice-like and slightly spicy, is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil. Thai basil has small, narrow leaves, purple stems, and pink-purple flowers.
Which is better Thai basil or sweet basil?
It’s got a shinier finish and has much more round leaves that tend to be a little more floppy and delicate. In terms of taste, Thai basil smells like anise and has a more licorice smell with a slightly spicy taste. Sweet basil has the classic aroma that reminds you of pesto and has more of a clove like.
Can you use Thai basil on pizza?
Thai basil is even sweeter than a Genovese basil common in the United States. Then I topped the cooked pizza with a mix of herbs, including Thai basil, cilantro and garlic chives and some sesame seeds. Of course, this is customizeable, so feel free to add cheese or use a different combination of herbs.
How do I use dried Thai basil?
Thai basil stands up to cooking a little better than sweet basil, making it a good choice for soups, stir-fries, and curries. It can also be eaten raw sprinkled over salads or cold noodles dishes, and used interchangeably with sweet basils in most recipes.
What is Thai basil good for?
Research shows that Thai Basil is high in antioxidants, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, which is why it has been used in traditional healing since centuries ago. Aside from ingesting Thai Basil, you can also bruise the leaves and inhale its aroma to relieve stress.
Can you eat Thai basil stems?
The flowers and stems are absolutely edible. The stems are like cilantro stems in that they have a lot of flavor of the herb but are not as prized for their texture as the leaves.
Can you eat basil raw?
The leaves are also commonly used in cooking, though some people eat the leaves raw. Holy basil tastes spicy and bitter. There are many ways to incorporate holy basil into your daily life. You can cook with it, take it in supplement form, or make a tea with it.
Should I let Thai basil flower?
Basil loves hot weather, and if your plants are flourishing, it’s time to prune (and harvest). If the flower stems are too woody to pinch (often the case with Thai basil), cut them off with shears. A plant allowed to flower will soon go to seed, stop growing, and die, so be vigilant about removing flowers.
Can you use Thai basil in pasta sauce?
If you make a basic tomato sauce using Thai basil instead of regular sweet basil, it goes well with spicy Italian sausage and peppers. Or, if you prefer, same sauce, but make it into pescatore. You can also put a big handful of it into the water when you steam mussels or veggies for a subtle licorice-basil flavor.
Can you use Thai basil in Italian food?
What is Thai basil, and can you use Italian basil in its place? Italian basil is an acceptable substitute in dishes with many other strong flavors, such as our Three-Cup Chicken, but Thai basil is worth seeking out for dishes such as Vietnamese spring rolls, where spicy flavor and sturdy texture are key elements.