Thai Basil
Photo by Sophia Perida
It’s difficult to exaggerate how unique of a flavor Thai basil has compared to other herbs and spices. It is also important to note that Thai Basil does not taste at all like the regular basil you can find at most grocery stores that you traditionally add to your Italian-inspired dishes. If you buy one when you mean to buy the other, you are going to experience a bit of a shock when you finally get around to tasting your meal.
That being said, Thai basil is an incredibly unique and delicious addition to many meals. Explore the links below to get started.
Happy eating!
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There is limited formal scientific research in the Western world on the benefits of Thai basil, but here is an overview of some of the health qualities it possesses:
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Thai basil’s flavor profile is so unique, I honestly don’t know if I can think of another herb/spice to compare it to or to substitute. Below is an example of a recipe to follow to see how you can incorporate the basil into different dishes. You can also substitute the chicken for tofu or another type of meat and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Also, I know savory-sounding ice cream ideas might seem strange, but don’t knock it till you try it! I haven’t tested this particular recipe out yet but I’ve tried a version of it in the past and enjoyed the unique experience.
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Growing your own herbs is a great way to get into food gardening. Learning to use your space to grow your own food, no matter how limited, helps the food system by decreasing demand for some herbs/produce, which in turn decreases the supply and environmental costs associated with mass agriculture, processing, transportation, and delivery. Below is a quick guide to learning how to grow Thai Basil yourself.