Contents
Greek basil has a punchy, aromatic flavour, a little like fresh mint crossed with cloves. It’s delicious in this easy pesto stirred with rich crumbles of feta, creamy walnuts and tangy black Kalamata olives. Toss with pasta, pile on top of jacket potatoes, or use to top slices of toasted ciabatta to make bruschette.
What is Greek basil good for?
The leaves of Greek basil herb plants have a great deal of medicinal value, according to sources. A basil tea calms the stomach and relieves spasms in the digestive track. Leaves may be chewed for a quick fix to stomach issues like nausea, diarrhea, and even flatulence.
What is the difference between basil and Greek basil?
Greek or ‘bush’ basil (Ocimum basilicum var. minimum ‘Greek’) has smaller leaves than sweet basil, with a slightly sweeter flavour. Use them to make pesto or add to tomato sauces or pizzas. It’s neat, compact shape makes it ideal for a container.
How do you harvest Greek basil?
Quote from video: The most mature stems by cutting out a node just above another set of leaves. You can harvest about one-third of the entire plant every week to two weeks depending on growth.
What is the difference between Italian and Greek basil?
Small leaved Greek basil is the best type for sauces, while the larger fleshy leaves of the popular Italian basil is best for salads and the famous Genoese basil sauce, pesto, which goes especially well with pasta.
Can you eat Greek basil stems?
If you do have an excess of basil, catch it before it’s too late and blend it into a classic pesto, or chop and freeze in ice cube trays to add to dishes at a later date. As with any soft herbs, the stalks are edible and delicious, too, and will add depth of flavour to all kinds of dishes.
Can you dry Greek basil?
Wash basil and remove leaves from stems. Allow the basil to dry completely, we like to let the leaves air dry on paper towels. Lay the basil leaves out in a single layer on a paper towel.
Which basil is best for cooking?
1. Sweet Basil. It is the most used and popular basil variety to grow. Sweet basil is used extensively in cooking for its aromatic foliage.
Is Greek basil same as sweet basil?
Greek basil is known for its smaller leaves and has a more potent aroma and flavor than sweet basil. Despite its name, it originates from Chile rather than Greece. It is known to be quite sweet and aromatic with flavors of anise, mint, and pepper.