Basil

Its fresh flavor makes basil the star of Mediterranean cuisine. However, the popular kitchen herb can do more than refine pesto, pasta, and pizza. Discover more culinary facets of the bright green leaves and learn interesting facts about the plant.

Things to know about basil

This aromatic culinary herb originally comes from tropical India but is now cultivated in all temperate latitudes. Basil is commercially available all year round. You will receive the plant, botanically known as Ocimum basilicum, both in a bunch and in a pot.

The Genovese basil, which is mainly known in Germany, is by no means the only one of its kind. Other internationally popular varieties are Thai basil with an aniseed note (used, for example, in our pumpkin ravioli recipe), Tulsi basil with a tart aroma, and fresh lemon basil.

Shopping and cooking tips for basil

Basil bought in a bunch will keep in a freezer bag in the crisper of your fridge for a few days. Basil in a pot, on the other hand, grows and thrives for several weeks with proper care. What does it look like? Water the herb from below every day with an amount of water equal to one-tenth the volume of the pot. Also, position the pot away from drafts and in a bright place. However, the basil should never be in the direct midday sun.

When harvesting, cut the leaves in pairs with scissors or a sharp knife, making each cut just above the leaf node. Make sure that at least one pair of leaves remains from which new shoots can develop. In this way, the plant becomes fuller over time and lasts longer.

Its intense but fine aroma makes basil a culinary all-rounder. Whether in Pasta Napoli, on a salami pizza or in a Caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella: the green leaves taste great in cold and hot dishes, harmonize with all kinds of vegetables, pasta and potatoes, and are convincing in spicy sauces.

However, modern basil recipes do not only cover the Mediterranean cuisine. Try the herb in sweet preparations, for example in a sorbet, a quark dish, in jam or in a morning smoothie. It is even suitable for mixing a refreshing cocktail. Just follow our Gin Basil Smash recipe.

Important: Always refine dishes with basil at the very end and tear the leaves instead of chopping them. This keeps more essential oils in.