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Basil recipes

The Chef's Gardener

Below you will find:

  1. Example basil recipes (& links to different types of basil)
  2. What basil is used for cooking? (which one do I use & why)
  3. How do you use basil in cooking?
  4. The easiest way to grow basil at home

Quick links for basil recipes using:

Cinnamon Basil – Lemon Basil – Lettuce leaf Basil – Minette Basil – Thai Basil –

To be kept updated simply visit my Instagram page

What basil is used for cooking?

If you want to cook recipes using basil then the key to realise is that different types of basil will have completely different flavours.

The key is to select the right type for your recipe. For example:

  • Genovese Basil – is ideal for Italian, French or Greek recipes.
  • Tulasi or Holy Basil – if you like cooking spicy Thai dishes.
  • Lemon Basil – Ideal for South Asian or North East African Dishes.
  • Thai Basil – Ideal for Thai, Laos or Vietnamese Recipes
  • Cinnamon Basil – Ideal for Mexican or South American recipes
  • Red Rubin Basil – great for tomato dishes, salads and especially great in cocktails
  • Lettuce leaf Basil – often used for sandwiches, pesto and salads

Taking them in turn:

Sweet or Genovese Basil

Cooking Mediterranean or European Dishes ? For example Italian, French or Greek.

If you buy this herb in a shop in the UK then you will most likely get either sweet or genovese basil. However, even these 2 European varieties are different. Where the sweet one has a flavor tasting a bit like a blend of licorice and cloves with a hint of mint. Whereas the Genovese one has a stronger flavour preferred by chefs – a bit like a combination of aniseed and cloves.

So if your recipes require a subtle flavour grow sweet variety at home. On the other hand if you prefer a stronger flavour (ideal for either Italian or dishes containing tomatoes) grow the genovese one at home.

pasta

Cinnamon or Mexican Basil

Cooking Central American Dishes? – For example Mexican or South American

The cinnamon option has a spicy, fragrant aroma and flavour. It can be used not only in pastas & salads but also in cookies, pies, ice cream.

Or drinks like the cinnamon basil iced tea pictured.

Cinnamon Basil Recipes

cinnamon basil iced tea

Thai basil

Cooking Asian Dishes ? For example Thai, Laos or Vietnamese…

Then the Thai one has to be a must – in addition it is ideal to grow indoors, because as a tropical plant it needs warm temperatures and is not frost resistant.

The reason it’s so good for Asian dishes is that it has the same flavours as standard option but in addition has a strong liquorice and anise flavour that gives foods like curries and soups a unique aroma.

Thai Basil Recipes

Thai red curry

Lemon basil

Cooking South Asian or North East African Dishes ? For example Indonesian, Philippine or Arabic…

Then the unique flavour of lemon is a must. In addition a key benefit is that it can be used in many different ways – for example eaten raw with a salad, used to season many cooked dishes or even used in sweet desserts.

Lemon Basil Recipes

lemon basil pistou pasta

Tulasi or Holy Basil

Cooking spicy Thai dishes?

Then you should grow Red Holy Basil. Although sometimes confused with Thai Basil (see above) this variety is completely different and has such a peppery flavour that it is often referred to as ‘hot basil’.

Please note that white holy basil is again slightly different, and often used for seafood dishes.

Typical recipes:

Red Rubin Basil

Ideal for tomato dishes, salads and especially great in cocktails. Stronger than regular basil with striking red colour.

It is often used in recipes like Basil Pesto, but when using it simply use less than other basil types (unless you like a strong basil flavour).

Typical recipes:

red basil in pot

Lettuce leaf basil

Often used for sandwiches, pesto and salads it has very large leaves with a nice subtle basil flavour.

This type of basil has a lovely flavour, and great as a substitute for normal lettuce. It is not available in many shops but not that hard to grow at home

Lettuce leaf Basil Recipes

lettuce leaf taco

How do you use fresh basil in cooking?

Whether you are using Sweet or Genovese variety, or any of the other varieties.

Preparation of all the varieties will be similar:

  1. If growing your own then cut a twig from the plant
  2. Wash the basil under cold water
  3. Then remove the leaves – easiest option is to start at the top and gently slide your finger down, removing the leaves.
  4. Then cut the leaves into small bits.

Basil recipes video – how to use basil

The video shows how to use it in a recipe.

The easiest way to grow Basil at home

There are many different varieties of basil and each has it’s own unique flavour.

Herbs (like basil) are very easy to grow at home, and you will notice a real difference in the taste when using fresh herbs in cooking.

it is very easy to grow basil indoors when you focus on 3 items:

  1. Nutrients – The right type & amount of nutrients (including water),
  2. Light – The right amount of light for your herb type
  3. Temperature – The best temperature.
thai basil
lemon basil

Yes, growing herbs in little pots of soil will work.

However the downside is that this depends on lots of sunshine, as well as making sure you provide exactly the right amount of water. (not to much or to little).

By far and way the easiest way to grow herbs indoors is to use an automated hydroponic or aquaponic unit.

Hydroponic & aquaponic systems are very similar. After you have selected the best herbs to grow indoors, you simply grow them with the roots growing in water and not soil. This is the method used by most commercial growers (for example for herbs and other crops like tomatoes and peppers) as it tends to get the best results.

More information

For details of the Basil used in the Basil recipes, as well as growing advice follow the links below

The different Basil types

How to grow Herbs indoors

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