But if you show them the love they deserve, the payoff can be huge. You can also chop them finely and stir them into pretty much any soup right at the end of cooking to add a pop of brightness and texture. Medicinal preparations are made from the leaves, stems, and seeds of the plant. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. And while you can certainly just toss them with the other vegetables in the mix, you can also chop them up and stir them into the vinaigrette you're using to dress that salad with. Try stirring it into the filling of strawberry shortcake or blending it into a berry sorbet. 7 Rhubarb Muffins to Wake Up Your Taste Buds, 30 Strawberry-Rhubarb Recipes to Make With Fresh Fruit, 9 Grilled Chicken Salads From Around the World, Memorial Day Recipes You Can Make in Your 9x13 Dish. Show loved ones how important they are by delivering a decadent breakfast in bed while they relax and start the day slowly. Puree the basil with either a little water or olive oil, put the puree in the tray, freeze, and then pop them out and store the cubes in the … Get 'em in there! The best way is the one that works for most fresh herbs, which is to store cinnamon basil stems upright in a container of water in the same way that you would store cut flowers. Use it fresh. I will sleep so much better knowing that you do. Blend those parsley stems into your next pesto or chimichurri for an added boost of green. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Beautiful Thai Basil ~ has narrow leaves, purple stems and a pronounced licorice flavor How to use Basil: Larger leaves can be torn, chopped or minced. Basil Recipes for Dessert With its sweet, fresh flavor, basil is a wonderful unexpected addition to desserts, especially when it’s paired with summer fruits. Freeze in Ice Trays. Think of everything soup has done for you. Or keep things simple – just sprinkle it over berries with a dollop of coconut cream. And basil plants flower faster under warm temperatures. Basil stems. I've used my big bunch of basil to make a big pot of tomato sauce. Yep! First off, let me clarify the types of herb stems to which this applies. Wanna know what makes me really sad? Parmesan rinds, miso, and alliums like garlic and onions are all great, but herb stems belong in that pot too. You probably don't want to make a whole salad out of herb stems, but incorporating finely chopped stems into your salad—whether it's a simple green salad or a more elaborate, veggie-packed situation—is a pro move. Whipping up a leafy salad? Stop Tossing Your Herb Stems — Here's How to Use Them Instead. Here's how to use these leftover bits to their full potential. Herbs in salad? I can see why most would assume that they're straight-up useless and gross. You paid for the whole bunch, right? The stems of soft herbs—think parsley, dill, cilantro, and basil—taste just like the leaves. J. Kenji López-Alt Herb stems are also far hardier than their leaves, which means that they stand up to freezing better. Almost every recipe ever says to pick the leaves and tender stems from a bunch of herbs and trash the rest. Finely chop some cilantro or dill stems for an added, herbaceous crunch. © Copyright 2021, Decorating Cakes, Cookies and Other Desserts, 6 Easy-to-Grow Herbs That Help Your Immune System, The 7 Best Indoor Herb Growing Kits You Can Buy. For optimal results prune basil when the stems are around 8 inches tall and try to keep the plant at around that height to ensure a good supply of leaves and to prevent a leggy appearance. Basil with the stems can be placed upright in a jar of water, with the leaves covered by a plastic bag (secured to the top of the jar). Fill the jar with fresh olive oil to completely cover the flowers. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. © 2021 Condé Nast. They'll lend an herby depth to your finished product, and since you're straining the stuff anyways, you don't even have to chop them up—just toss them in and simmer away. Basil plants have the main stem where a plant hormone called auxin is exchanged with all the potential side stems. Recipes you want to make. Soft, large-leaved plants like basil are especially vulnerable to these slimy pests. Allrecipes is part of the Meredith Food Group. It's all about slipping them into sauces, salsas, dressing, and stocks. Crunchy, creamy, chorizo-y—these quick tostadas hit all the notes. The stems might taste slightly more bitter than the leaves, but when prepared in the right application, you'd never know the difference. Herb stems in salad? Holy basil is a plant that has violet flowers and blossoms; the stems are green, but sometimes have a purple tinge. Toss in a handful of stems to impart an herbaceous flavor to your next broth or soup. Similarly, basil stems make a great addition to tomato sauces, of both the quick-cooked and slow-cooked varieties. Herby complexity: always welcome. Add the stems to the compost pile, and bring the leaves indoors for an afternoon of cooking and preserving. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is usually grown as an herb and the young, tender leaves are used to season meats, vegetables and sauces. Ad Choices. Our final method for preserving basil in the freezer is to use ice cube trays. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. In older plants the stalks Do you use the stems of fresh basil? If you can’t use the basil immediately, hang stems to dry or freeze the basil in ice cube trays for later use. Since you're going to be straining all of the ingredients anyway, what's stopping you from throwing in some stems, right? Holy basil is often used for cooking Thai dishes and its spicy flavor has influenced the common name “hot basil.” There’s no end to yummy ways to use this herb: If you're blitzing up some tomatillos for a spicy salsa, might as well go ahead and just throw in the whole bunch of cilantro — no one will know you were using the stems, too! We just care that they do. "Soft herbs," such as parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, and mint, all have malleable stems that can be put to use. 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. In fact, they have so much potential. To keep basil fresh, trim the stems and place them in a glass or jar of water, just like cut flowers. In the refrigerator, they will last up to a week; make sure to change the water daily. You’ve been conditioned to think that the remainder of the plant is compost. See how you fix common basil plant growing issues. Simply buy a neutral oil or white vinegar, submerge herb stems, and let them steep for a few hours to a day. Just because a recipe only asks for a sprinkling of the leaves doesn't mean that the stems are destined for nothing. When harvesting basil for the leaves, ensure that you pinch or snip the stems as well as the leaves to keep the plant looking tidy and prevent a leggy appearance which can affect growth. And while you can certainly just toss them with the other vegetables in the mix, you can also chop them up and stir them into the vinaigrette you're using to dress that salad with. Boost the flavor in your bean broth with some parsley stems. Bon Appétit may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. They can help to fill out a blended sauce like pesto—it's kind of all the same when you buzz it up like that—and when chopped finely they add flavor and a bit of crunch to looser sauces, like a simple salsa verde. You’re not using enough basil. The flavor isn't quite as bright and pronounced, but it’s very much there. (This isn't really the case with tougher, woodier herbs like rosemary and oregano.) And basil plants flower faster under warm temperatures. When making tomato based pasta sauces, I typically simmer basil stems and Parmesan rinds in the sauce, while reserving the leaves and fresh grated Parmesan for use as finishing elements. The beauty of soft herbs is that their leaves and their stems are nearly identical in flavor. And if you're making a vinaigrette for that salad in a food processor or blender, then throw some herb stems in there, too. Basil … … Related: The 7 Best Indoor Herb Growing Kits You Can Buy. The flowers do seem to have a condensed flavor. Symptoms of Slug Damage: Ragged holes and bleached or brown spots, coupled with tell-tale slime trails. Infuse your favorite vinegars with basil as well. Here’s how to use herb stems to boost your salads, soups, and pastas to new heights: Any green, herby sauce makes a good home for those leftover herb stems. Related: 6 Easy-to-Grow Herbs That Help Your Immune System. All rights reserved. I grow Queen Siam Thai Basil and Genovese Basil. Rinse freshly cut basil flowers and pat them dry. Leave a plant in Sure, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are convenient… but there's so much more flavor to be had with bone-in chicken thighs. You’ve likely used this herb while cooking before, or at least ate a dish that included basil. Is there any reason why the stems can't go in for flavoring. In the case of "hard" or "woody" herbs (like oregano, thyme, or rosemary), unfortunately, there's not a whole lot to do with those stems — send those straight to your compost pile. Green stems from any herb (for example, basil, parsley or cilantro) can be cut fine or tossed into anything you're cooking in the exact same way you'd use a bay leaf. Basil flowers, as well as its leaves and stems, are edible and non-toxic for both humans and pets. Here’s the thing, woody basil tends to be more bitter with less aromatic flavor, so what you need to do is to prune your basil plant regularly to keep it from flowering. Slugs. If there is one place where the odds and ends of vegetables thrive, it's a homemade stock. Basil propagation from cuttings is quite simple. This keeps me up at night. Continued Blood Sugar Regulation Adding basil to your diet may help to reduce high blood sugar levels. 10 Breakfast Skillets for Starting the Day Right. Who knows how long that jar has been in the cabinet... We Tried 8 Canned and Frozen Biscuits and These Were the Best. are easy to remove once they've cooked with the rest of your meal. Restaurant recommendations you trust. I understand the confusion — most recipes tell you to pick off the leaves but give you no clear direction as to what to do with the stems. Order Your Recipe Ingredients Online With One Click. Where the stems and leaves differ is their texture — the stems are much crunchier and more… stem-like, so they're not an ideal garnish. Finely chop some cilantro or dill stems for an added, herbaceous crunch. … The bulk of time is snapping the basil leaves off the stems, washing and drying them! Sure, the stems may not be as photo-ready as their crisp, leafy neighbor, but they can definitely hold their own in a sauce, stock, or soup. Of course, you definitely want to give the stems a good rinse before using them, just like you would the leaves. The reason they get cast aside so often is because they tend to be a bit more fibrous than the tender, leafy parts, which means that they're not great for sprinkling and garnishing. That quintessential "I bought this for a specific recipe and will now bury it in my fridge because I have no other use for it" kind of ingredient. I use the flowers in soups and pesto mostly and I don't notice them being bitter or making the leaves bitter once the plants start flowering. Note: The flowers must remain covered to prevent mold growth. Growing and Harvesting Basil Before we get into how to use up an excess of this aromatic herb, let’s do a very quick overview of how to grow it so that you end up with a very prolific crop to use in many different ways. You might as well get your money's worth. Drop the flowers (with stems attached) into a clean glass jar. Shop your favorite recipes with grocery delivery or pickup at your local Walmart. Like many other herbs, basil can easily be grown in many growing zones in the United States and throughout the world! Then use to dress your next salad, or get fancy with marinated mozzarella or quick pickles. To make a straight-up infused vinegar, simply add a few sprigs to a container of balsamic or white wine vinegar. Although certain herbs, such as parsley and cilantro, can be stored What to Do With Broccoli Stems: 10 Ideas Many people just throw away the broccoli stems that are left over after the florets are removed and used for a variety of dishes. Of course, the first idea is to use it fresh from the garden on everything you eat! … Once your basil plants start showing Fusarium symptoms, your only option is to remove and dispose of them and the surrounding soil. All you need to do is take a 4-inch (10 cm.) Cooking advice that works. Don't replant basil -- or any Mint family herb -- … #howtogrowbasil #gardening #basil #growingbasil But the truth is that, while those leaves may be pretty, the stems that they grow on are packed with flavor and shouldn't go to waste. Such hormone makes such side stem dormant. Knowing that most people probably just toss the tough stems in their bunches of herbs. Do store cinnamon basil correctly. If you feel weary about eating herb stems, or you only have hard herbs (like rosemary) on hand, then go with this approach. I'm afraid to do this because every recipe I've read asks that the leaves be pick off. If you’re substituting fresh basil for dried, adding … But you know what makes me even more sad? Read about the top problems found when growing basil plants. Trashing stems from fresh parsley, basil, mint, cilantro, and dill is a senseless waste of flavor. Gahh!!! Herb stems don't belong in the compost—they belong in your dinner. When building a quick broth, you need as much help as you can get in the flavor-building category. The basil plant is a perennial with stocky, wooden stems that produce robust and flavorful sprigs of basil. Remove the leaves off the Our first ever Allrecipes gardening guide gives you tips and advice to get you started. Very good. I planned to tie the bunch of stems together and put it in with the sauce for the simmer. Also very good. 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. Take your love of food to the next level by growing your own. basil cutting right below a leaf node. Which premade biscuits are worthy of your breakfast? So how do you use 'em if you're not chopping 'em up for garnish? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Your basil plant might be turning colors or losing leaves. Dress your salad with a herb stem vinaigrette to blow people's minds. Despite the fact that these stems do not offer the same soft texture of their leafy counterparts, they are still packed with plenty of fresh flavor. Same thing goes for a simmering pot of beans--don't be afraid to toss in some herb stems for a subtle pop of flavor. Why Do Basil Stems Turn to Wood?. Do you want to know even more? Please, try giving your herb stems a shot at life and use them up. This is that thing. And if you're making a vinaigrette for that salad in a food processor or blender, then throw some herb stems in there, too. Large stems are easy to remove once they've cooked with the rest of your meal. It’s time you do something for soup. THE BOTTOM LINE: While we don’t recommend using the thicker stems from a bunch of basil, it’s perfectly fine to make the most of your basil bunch and put the younger, more tender stems to use. Listen, we don't care how those herb stems end up in your salad. When I use up my herb stems, I like to use them in addition to their leaves, which helps to bring a full circle of flavor. Loosely cover it with a plastic bag and leave it on the counter. Coming across a forgotten, slimy bunch of herbs at the bottom of the vegetable drawer. In a study performed on rats with diabetes, basil extract helped to do just that. Young basil stems contain flavor and a little extra crunch. How to Use Basil Your first task is to remove the leaves from the stems, discard any dead or spotted leaves, rinse the basil thoroughly, and allow it to air dry (or pat dry with a towel). It's OK: We get it. Worry not, there are plenty of clever ways that you can put these ignored gems to great use. Like any fresh herb, you have to store cinnamon basil correctly for it to last and so that it can provide its flavor when you need to use it. Learn what to do when your basil plant is covered with aphids or when its infested with ants. In fact, propagating basil is one way to share your basil with your friends. Treatments: Use diatomaceous earth or crushed eggshells around the base of plants as a barrier slugs can’t cross. Hello, Usually, basil stems turn woody after the plant is allowed to flower.