What can I do with African basil?

African Blue basil is best suited as a fresh flavoring or finishing garnish. The leaves are popularly blended into pesto, chimichurri sauce, salad dressings, and dips, or they are sprinkled over soups, tossed into salads, or layered over bruschetta.

What does African basil taste like?

The herb has a strong, earthy basil flavor with a mellow camphor scent. If rosemary and clove had a basil baby, it would be African Blue.

Can you use African basil for pesto?

That of African blue basil may have a bit more camphor than other basils, but not enough to dominate its flavor. I enjoy pesto I make from it, and everyone I know who has used it has agreed it makes great pesto.

Is African blue basil good to eat?

All parts of the flower, leaves and stems are edible; although some might find the camphor scent too strong for use in the kitchen, the herb reportedly yields a tasty pesto with a “rich, mellow flavor” and can be used as a seasoning in soups and salads, particularly those featuring tomato, green beans, chicken, etc.

What can I do with African basil? – Related Questions

Who should not eat basil?

Additionally, people taking blood pressure-lowering drugs or diabetes drugs should use caution with basil supplements since they may lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Your doctor may need to decrease your drug dose ( 18 , 34). Avoid holy basil if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Is African blue basil the same as Thai basil?

Thai basil is the one you find in Asian dishes, where its purple/green leaves give a hint of anise. It’s similar in flavor to African Blue basil, a tender perennial. Both are more camphorous than soft-leaved basils, so most people find the taste inferior.

Is Blue spice basil edible?

Once washed, the leaves can be mixed into fruit and green salads, torn and sprinkled over omelets, soups, and curries, or folded into tomato-based dishes. Blue Spice basil can also add flavor to pesto, marinades, and dressings, or it can be muddled into liquors, sparkling beverages, lemonade, and tea.

What is the best basil to eat?

The best variety to grow for flavor is sweet basil

Sweet basil, specifically a variety of sweet basil called Genovese basil, is the star of the Italian classic, pesto, as well as many other sauces and soups. It’s also really easy to grow and will give you an abundance of big leaves you can toss onto your meals.

Is purple basil OK to eat?

Purple Basil is great for…

Purple Basil leaves have a beautiful, coppery glow and clove-like, slightly spicy flavour. Use them in salads, for pesto or preserved in oils and vinegars.

Can you eat basil straight off the plant?

Once your basil plant is grown, you should feel free to pick off leaves whenever you want a fresh garnish.

Does purple basil taste different than regular basil?

Purple Basil

It’s not as sweet as other basil varieties, and it has a strong clove flavor. We don’t recommend cooking it, as it turns an unappealing black color when heated, but it’s perfect for use in salads, pesto or any of your other favorite ways to use fresh basil.

Which basil tastes like licorice?

There are two varieties of basil said to have a licorice flavour – Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum thyrsiflorus) and Licorice Basil (O. basilicum ‘licorice’).

Does purple basil taste like licorice?

It has a slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor. In terms of appearance, Thai basil has a purple stem and small, sturdy leaves with serrated edges.

Which basil is best for pesto?

Italian Large Leaf

Italian Large Leaf Basil is the most commonly used in pesto. This variety offers a strong flavor for a robust fullness. When using fresh basil to prepare pesto, crush the leaves first to release the flavor, then add them to the olive oil.

Should I remove basil stems when making pesto?

Can you use basil stems in pesto? Absolutely! The great thing about making pesto is that you can use the entire herb in the sauce. If you get a bunch of basil with extra thick stems, you may want to trim those off, as your blender or food processor might not be able to handle them.

Which basil is best for tomatoes?

Genovese basil is probably the most popular variety. It is a traditional type, excellent for pesto-making, pasta sauce or in a freshly harvested tomato salad. You may also have encountered Thai Sweet basil. Reminiscent of Vietnamese restaurants and pho noodle soups, I’ve often seen this one offered at my local nursery.

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