Basil is a lovely ingredient in many recipes.
But the key to realise is that different types of basil will have completely different flavours. The guide to how to grow & cook basil provides more info.
Quick links for recipes using:
Genovese basil – Lemon Basil – Cinnamon Basil – Lettuce leaf basil – Minette Basil – Thai Basil
20 Most popular Basil recipes
Quick links
- Basil recipe questions & answers for home cooks
- 10 ideas of what to do with lots of basil
- The best basil types to grow for cooking
How to grow Basil at home
If the recipes inspire you then basil is very easy to grow at home.
So far I’ve grow all the different types of basil at home, and used them in different basil recipes – for example Thai basil makes a lovely tea, as well as great in Asian dishes.
If you want to grow them then below is a quick comparison of their flavours and how to use them in recipes:
| Basil Type | Flavour | Best For | Use Fresh or Cooked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genovese | Sweet, clove‑like | Italian, tomato dishes | Fresh & cooked |
| Thai | Anise, liquorice | Thai, Vietnamese | Best cooked |
| Lemon | Citrus | Fish, salads, desserts | Fresh |
| Cinnamon | Warm, spicy | Mexican, drinks | Fresh |
| Holy (Tulasi) | Peppery | Thai stir‑fries | Cooked |
| Red Rubin | Strong basil | Tomato dishes, salads and cocktails | Fresh & cooked |
| Lettuce Leaf | Subtle flavour | Sandwiches, pesto and salads | Fresh |
| Minette | Slightly spicy | Pizza, pasta and salads | Fresh & cooked |
Our growing articles provide advice for each one in detail – types of basil & how to grow them
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