Sweet Basil leaves are
used regularly in italian
cooking
Basil
Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Greek basil (O. minimum)
[Lamiaceae]
Sweet basil
Best for pesto or tomato salads – it also combines well with garlic and goes well with beans, peppers and aubergines
Purple basil
Use with rice & grains or to add colour to salads
Thai basil
Strong aniseed flavour, use when making Thai green curry paste and also add at the end of cooking to balance spices
Holy basil
Essential ingredient in a Thai dish of stir-fried chicken with chillies & basil and extensively used in meat curries
Don’t store basil in the refrigerator, as the leaves will quickly turn black
Don’t chop basil as this can turn it dark – pinch off leaves and tear!