![]() Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. As a last resort YuChen suggests asking your favorite local Asian restaurant if you can have some of their stash, but remember to tip generously! And if you must, we guess you can substitute sweet basil-but this time only.Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family, ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling, knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable. ![]() Chef Everett at Fish Cheeks mentions that for the best selection, you should try to shop at a market in areas with a strong Thai community, such as Pata Market in New York’s Elmhurst. ![]() Due to its vibrant nature, it’s worth seeking out fresh, rather than dried. You’ll find Thai basil in a well-stocked supermarket or Asian market. Holy basil is used widely in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, often in the form of herbal tea, and is considered sacred in Hinduism. It boasts strong notes of pepper and clove and gives off an herbal, aromatic smell. Holy basil is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. But then there’s holy basil…īoth Khaengkarn and Everett express that their highest basil preference is holy basil, but because it’s harder to find in the U.S., many chefs use Thai basil for a similar, if not exact, flavor and aroma. But our experts agree: If at all possible, seek out fresh Thai basil when a recipe calls for it. Khaengkarn of Soothr says that if you absolutely must use sweet basil, you might need to cut the amount of sugar (if a recipe calls for it) or up the salt or spice level to balance the sweetness. If you are to substitute, supplement the sweet basil with mint to make up for this loss of flavor. If you can’t find Thai basil, you can substitute sweet basil, but it will lack its distinctive grassy and spicy flavor. Is it ever acceptable to substitute sweet basil? If you’re still craving more Thai basil, perhaps in a boozier form, you can take a nod from Fish Cheeks and incorporate the herb into your cocktails, either in a syrup used to flavor a clear liquor like rum or gin or as a garnish (or both). All this basil-y goodness is tossed with wide noodles, garlic chives, and bean sprouts, then topped with jammy eggs and chili crisp. The result is a Thai basil sauce that Yuchen describes as savory, aromatic, and licorice-scented. ![]() ![]() In their Thai Basil Sauce Noodles with Jammy Eggs, YuChen purées the leaves with raw garlic and vegetable oil until a smooth paste forms, then cooks it with michiu tou (Taiwanese rice wine), sugar, and salt. While we’re not going to call it pesto, you can also blend Thai basil into a sauce. One dish where this magic happens? Soothr’s chicken ki-mao noodles, which is what I would choose if I could only eat one dish for the rest of my life. Tom Khaengkarn, head chef of Soothr in the East Village, describes how a handful of Thai basil leaves is often added to the pan right before turning off the stove in order to give the leaves a quick cook. You can also integrate Thai basil right into your stir-fries or noodle dishes. ![]()
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