Is Thai Basil The Same As Vietnamese Basil?

In Thailand, Thai basil is called bai horapa, while in Vietnam, it is known as rau húng quế. Interestingly, rau hung que literally means “cinnamon mint,” though Thai basil is a true basil. This true basil is made distinct by its small leaves, smaller than its western and European counterparts.

Is Thai basil the same as Vietnamese mint?

Thai Basil (also called Asian basil): has purple stems and purple buds. Think of Thai basil as a spicier and less sweet version than the Italian cousin. Vietnamese Balm (also known as Vietnamese mint): this saw-edged, slightly fuzzy herb tastes of lemon and mint.

What is Thai basil called in Vietnam?

húng quế
In Vietnamese this herb will be called: húng quế, rau quế, or sometimes even rau húng quế. The literal translation is cinnamon mint. In English it is most commonly referred to as Thai Basil or Taiwanese Basil.

What’s another name for Thai basil?

It is also known as Thai holy basil or by its Indian name, tulasi or tulsi; it is widely used in India for culinary, medicinal, and religious purposes.

What basil is similar to Thai basil?

No Thai Basil? No problem! 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.

Does pho use Thai basil?

Role of Thai Basil in Pho
Thai basil is an optional ingredient in Vietnamese pho. Along with bean sprouts, lime wedges and chopped Asian chili, Thai basil is always included in the plate of garnishing that is provided with the bowl of pho (except for the Pho Bac or northern pho variety.)

What can I substitute for Vietnamese mint?

I have a soup recipe that calls for Vietnamese mint and I cannot get it anywhere. I have used tarragon as a substitute, but would really like to have the correct ingredients. You can get Vietnamese mint – Persicaria odorata, aka Vietnamese coriander – in Asian supermarkets, should you have one to hand.

What kind of basil is used for pho?

Thai Basil (O.
Thai basil, as its name suggests, is used more frequently in Asian dishes. It withstands heat better than sweet basil, so may be added before cooking. It’s also served fresh with soups like Vietnamese pho or in salads.

Are there different types of Thai basil?

Thai cuisine utilises three main type of basil: Thai basil, holy basil, and lemon basil. A fourth less common basil is tree basil. The latter two are the most difficult to find outside of Thailand and the first in the list the most commonly available.

Is Thai basil different than regular basil?

What Is Thai Basil? Thai basil is a variety of basil (Ocimum basilicum) best known for its use in Asian and Thai cuisine. Unlike its cousin, Italian basil (aka Genovese basil), Thai basil has sturdy, resilient leaves that stand up well to extended cooking times and prolonged heat.

Can I replace Thai basil with basil?

Can I substitute basil for Thai basil? You can substitute basil for Thai basil in dishes if that’s all you have. It won’t have that same punch of flavor that Thai basil brings, so it could be worth adding other fresh herbs to help brighten the dish like mint or cilantro.

What type of basil is Thai basil?

Thai basil vs basil: a breakdown
Thai basil is a type of basil with an anise or black licorice flavor that’s native to Southeast Asia. It has a purple stem, purple flowers, and thin, dark green leaves. It’s common in Southeast Asian cuisine, including Thai, Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese recipes.

What do you use Thai basil for?

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.

How do I identify Thai basil?

Unlike other basil varieties, it has unique purple stems and narrow leaves with a slightly serrated edge, usually green with purple accents around the stems and veins. If it’s allowed to bloom, Thai basil produces clusters of purple blooms that look quite similar to mint flowers and are just as aromatic as the leaves.

Can you buy dried Thai basil?

DELICIOUS All Natural Dried THAI BASIL McCormick Gourmet 0.62 oz REVIEW.

What is the leaf they put in pho?

If you’re hardcore, add culantro (ngò gai) leaves, a hot-weather herb with a strong, slightly sweet cilantro flavor; it’s usually sold at Vietnamese, Latin, and Caribbean markets.

What herbs are in pho broth?

Pho broth is made by adding in charred onions and ginger followed by whole spices like anise, fennel, coriander, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom pods.

Is pho served with mint or basil?

The herb can be difficult to find outside South East Asia, as it requires high humidity and temperature to grow. Unlike the name, Vietnamese mint is not part of the mint family, but the taste has minty, slightly spicy and basil notes. If you cannot find it, use mint and basil instead.

What is Vietnamese mint called?

Vietnamese Mint is also known as Vietnamese Coriander or Hot Mint but is actually not related to the Mint family at all! Its name is due to its general appearance and fragrance, which are reminiscent of mint. In Southeast Asian cooking, Vietnamese mint is often used interchangeably with mint and coriander.

What kind of mint is used in Vietnamese cooking?

Both peppermint and spearmint are quite common in Vietnamese cuisine. They are added to fresh rolls (gỏi cuốn) as a complimentary flavor to the pork and shrimp.

What does Vietnamese mint taste like?

Vietnamese mint is admired for its peppery or hot minty taste, which is quite pleasant. Some people prefer to use it sparingly while others use larger servings in their salads. The taste has been also been likened to coriander and its culinary uses are similar.