Holy basil is another type of basil native to Southeast Asia, and it's easy to confuse it with Thai basil, as it's sometimes referred to as "Thai holy basil." But the two actually belong to different species — holy basil belongs to the Ocimum tenuiflorum species, and Thai basil belongs to the Ocimum basilicum species.
A popular herb in Thai cuisine, the fragrant leaves can be used in potpourri and have a spicy, sweet, clove-like flavor.
The word “pad†in pad thai means “noodle.â€
On the face of it, Pad Krapow is an innocent stir-fry and therefore a healthy choice. If you stop to notice that the ground meat is soaked in flavorful oil, and the holy basil leaves have been deep fried to release that heaven-in-a-mouthful flavor, the deception is quickly over.
All varieties of Holy Basil are astringent, pungent, warm and sweet, with notes of peppermint, cloves, licorice, or lemon. Rama has a flavor profile that is more spicy or clove-like, while the Vana variety is more fragrant and sweet, with an anise taste.
MALAY VEGE. DAUN SELASIH – THAI BASIL LEAVES.
What Is a Good Oyster Sauce Substitute?6 Options
- Fish sauce. Although it's not a perfect substitute, you can use fish sauce in place of oyster sauce in some recipes.
- Soy sauce.
- Hoisin sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce.
- Teriyaki sauce.
- Vegan mushroom sauce.
Eating pad krapow without rice is like eating a jar of sauce without adding anything. Rice counteracts the heat as it is mild and soft, and the nutty taste of pandan or glutinous rice gives an extra dimension to the whole.
Sacred basil or holy basil is native to India and is valued greatly for its medicinal properties and spiritual significance in Ayurvedic medicine and among people who worship the Hindu deities Lakshmi and Vishnu. The Sanskrit name for sacred basil is tulsi or tulasi.
Essential oil of holy basil is distilled from leaves and flowers of the plant. You can also make holy basil tea using the leaves, flowers, or dried leaf powder. The herb can also be used to make freshly brewed tea by placing 2–3 teaspoons of holy basil in a cup of boiling water and letting it steep for 5–6 minutes.
Use a light, well-draining soil that is enriched with organic material, although holy basil will tolerate poor soil fairly well. Your plant will also tolerate some shade, so full sun is not necessary. Keep it watered but not soggy and harvest leaves as needed, just as you would with an ordinary sweet basil plant.
Some recipes call for Thai basil, a pungent variety that can be hard to find in grocery stores. To duplicate its flavor, use common “Italian†basil and add a few fresh mint sprigs to the recipe.
Research shows that Thai Basil is high in antioxidants, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, which is why it has been used in traditional healing since centuries ago. Aside from ingesting Thai Basil, you can also bruise the leaves and inhale its aroma to relieve stress.
Perfect for Southeast Asian dishes, the purple-stemmed Thai basil has a bright mint and citrus flavor. In a pinch, you can substitute sweet basil for Thai basil. Store basil for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
There are many varieties of basil, sweet basil (common basil) (Ocimum basilicum) has dark green leaves is the most common. It has a spicy aroma with a sweet clove-like taste. (Dried basil (and most dried herbs) are very different in aroma and flavor then the fresh leaves.)
Thai chili paste also called Nam Prik Pao is a slightly spicy, sweet, sour and salty paste which can be used in any Asian inspired dish. It's usually made with dried chili, garlic, sugar, shrimp paste and fish sauce.
Thai basil is wonderful eaten raw, slivered, and added to salads, both your plain old cucumber-tomato salad or something meaty like northern Thai larb. But its hardy leaves stand up especially well to cooking—their flavor infuses readily into food and the leaves don't wilt quite as much as Italian sweet basil's would.
Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai) is a super fast minced chicken stir-fry in rich, spicy brown sauce with Thai holy basil. This dish is great served over rice with a wok-fried egg on top. Prep Time10 mins. Cook Time8 mins. Total Time18 mins.
Traditional Thai cuisine is quite healthy and largely based on vegetables, lean proteins, and fresh herbs and spices. Certain Thai dishes are high in refined carbs and may contain deep-fried foods, added sugar, or high amounts of salt.
