How can one use Thai basil stems and flowers?
What parts, besides the leaves of Thai Basil, are usable? I am making Thai Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Krapow) using the leaves but can I use the stems and flowers as well?
Best Answer
First off, I'm afraid you have been using the wrong type of basil for your dish!
In Thai cooking, three different types are commonly used:
"Thai basil" (or "horapha", ??????), which tastes a bit like anise / liquorice; it's slightly purple (as shown in the picture in Jolenealaska's answer).
"Holy basil" (or "kaphrao", ??????), which tastes more like pepper/cloves; it can also be a bit purple, and (unlike Thai basil), it is a bit hairy, and the leaves have jagged edges.
"Lemon basil" (or "maenglak", ??????), which (as the name suggests) tastes a bit like lemon.
Notice that "krapow" is just a slightly different spelled transliteration for holy basil ("kaphrao"). Preparing this well-known dish with Thai basil instead of holy basil will certainly make for a very good tasting dish (I've made it myself a few times when I couldn't get holy basil, and in fact I actually prefer it, since I'm quite a sucker for that anise/liquorice taste), but should really be called "Gai Pad Horapha" instead.
As for your question, I typically use the flowers (of either type of basil) to garnish a dish - if I haven't eaten them already while peeling the leaves off the stems.
I typically discard the stems, but on occasion I have chopped them up and mixed them with some honey and ginger (and some mint, whenever I had it), to be used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls.
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Quick Answer about "How can one use Thai basil stems and flowers?"
The solution is to have many plants, some for leaves, some for flowers. You can either pinch your Thai basil to prevent flowering and harvest the leaves or let the plants flower and use the flowers as a garnish, for cut flower arrangements, or for vinegar.What can I do with Thai basil stalks?
The flowers and stems are absolutely edible. The stems are like cilantro stems in that they have a lot of flavor of the herb but are not as prized for their texture as the leaves. I puree cilantro stems until they are just flavorful, green liquid. That liquid is great in sauces, salsas, soups and dressings.Can you use the stems of Thai basil?
Thai basil is best used fresh. When you use it in recipes, harvest a few branches of the herb and then remove the leaves. If you happen to harvest too much Thai basil, you can store the cut stems in a jar in the refrigerator.Do you eat the flowers on Thai basil?
Are Thai basil flowers edible? Yes, Thai basil flowers are edible. They are spicier and offer a more pungent flavor compared to sweet basils.Can you eat basil flowers and stems?
Basil flowers are perfectly edible. In terms of fragrance and flavor, the flowers are similar, if milder, than the leaves. Sometimes, flowers can be somewhat bitter, so test them first. When sprinkled over a salad, basil flowers impart a mild basil flavor and add a decorative touch.Best Way to Eat \u0026 Preserve Basil Flowers When You Deadhead
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Answer 2
The flowers and stems are absolutely edible.
The stems are like cilantro stems in that they have a lot of flavor of the herb but are not as prized for their texture as the leaves. I puree cilantro stems until they are just flavorful, green liquid. That liquid is great in sauces, salsas, soups and dressings. I see no reason why Thai basil would be any different. As a matter of fact, I wish I had some Thai basil right now, I have a couple of Asian pears and some fresh homemade Japanese style mayonnaise. The stem puree would make an awesome dressing for slaw. Also like cilantro, you don't have to puree the stems, you can just chop them up and use them as you do the leaves, it's just a matter of personal preference.
The flowers of Thai basil are a bit more controversial. The flowers certainly are very pretty:
Some people think they are very tasty, others not so much. So on that one, I just recommend that you taste them. If you like them, you can use just like any other edible flower or with the leaves in any application in which you would use the herb.
Answer 3
the whole basil plant is edible. Roots too, though I wouldn't want to eat them.
The stems can be a bit woody, especially if you let it grow tall.
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