If Italian basil is all you have, go ahead and use it in Southeast Asian dishes, perhaps supplementing it with some fresh mint.
Reading this on your phone? Stay up to date on Bay Area and Silicon Valley news with our new, free mobile app. Get it from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. Sweet basil has the classic aroma that reminds you of pesto and has more of a clove like. Thai basil is a type of basil that originates in Southeast Asia. You can usually find Thai basil at a well-stocked grocery store or your local International or Asian market or grocery store.
They are not! The main difference between Thai basil and holy basil is their flavor. Thai basil has a sweet, anise quality whereas holy basil is found to be spicy and peppery. Holy basil can often be called Thai holy basil making it confusing to differentiate that they are, in fact, not the same herb. Regular basil has a sweet flavor with mild pepperiness and anise. Thai basil, while similar, has stringer spice and more of an overall kick to the taste.
The flavor is distinctively savory and is great when paired with sweet, tangy sauces. This also brings out the licorice flavor which complements many savory dishes well. Thai basil has many names. This is loosely translated as cinnamon basil, which is another popular name for this herb. The other more common names in the west include anise basil and licorice basil. Both of these names emphasize its strongest flavors which are well-liked. A name that is commonly used for this herb, but is actually not correct, is Thai holy basil.
This is due to the look and state of these two is very similar, but with their own distinctions and favored uses. Thai cuisine uses many types of basil, but there are three types that are most common.
These include Thai basil, Lemon basil, and Holy basil. Each of these is very similar but liked for its own distinctive characteristics. Holy basil is used for many spicy and savory dishes because of its wonderful pepper flavor. In India, Holy Basil is also popular for religious ceremonies and health purposes, which is where it gets its name. Another name for this herb is Tulsi, which is a common addition to a lot of curry sauces.
However, some say you should not eat the Holy Basil or Tulsi directly so you may want to do more research before you start using it. Lemon basil is the least spicy or peppery of these three varieties. Lemon basil is sweeter than regular basil with hints of lemon zest.
It is similar to and a relative of lemon balm. They are both a lovely addition to savory dishes, but not for the spicy kick like Thai and Holy basil, but for its citrus flavors.
Thai basil can certainly be used in pasta, however, you want to be careful what type of pasta sauces you are using it in. Regular basil, which is the usual type, is sweet flavored basil and pairs nicely and mildly with the common seasonings used in Italian cooking. One distinction between the two is that regular basil is much softer than Thai basil. Thai basil should be added early on in a dish to allow all the flavor to be absorbed into the sauce. Regular basil is very easily wilted and overwhelmed by other flavors if it is added too early.
Therefore, be sure to add Thai basil to a dish much sooner than regular basil. If you are adding Thai basil fresh on top of your pizza, it will be quite delicious. However, just remember that the flavors will be different from regular basil, with a spicy licorice taste over the sweetness of the regular kind.
For pizza, consider pairing Thai basil with other fresh vegetables such as asparagus, spinach, or perhaps even some fruits such as pineapple! Thai basil, much like regular basil, actually freezes rather nicely.
Thai basil has a beautiful color that can be retained if you blanch it properly. Blanching is a relatively simple task that involves putting basil in hot water for a brief amount of time and then putting it immediately on ice.
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