Have your basil plants ever bloomed (or are about to bloom) when you were too busy to notice? It has happened to me more than once. Let’s examine what transpires when the basil blooms and what to do with the basil flowers if they sneak up on you. Are basil flowers edible?
Any herb gardener’s favorite plant is basil because it’s simple to grow and has a delicious flavor. It’s no surprise that basil leaves are used in most cuisines, from those in Asia to those in Europe. Basil leaves are adaptable and go well with a variety of flavors and dishes. But what about the basil flowers?.
The flavor and taste of basil change as it prepares to flower and send out buds. As it expends its energy on developing blooms and eventually seeds, it turns bitter and less pleasant.
The unopened flower buds can be cut off if you catch it in time, and your plant will continue to produce leaves. Simply keep an eye on it because it will continue to send out bloom heads once it gets going.
When I notice the plants beginning to bloom, I typically take a few cuttings and place them in a glass of water. You’ll notice new roots forming in just a few days (typically 3 or 4 days), and you can plant additional plants after that. For more information, read this article on growing and canning basil.
Pinch any basil flower heads you see if you want to keep your basil flavorful for cooking; otherwise, the flavor of the leaves will change and you’ll end up with a bitter flavor.
But you can allow a couple of basil plants to bloom in your garden if you want to experiment with using the edible blossoms for crafts, cut flower arrangements, and cooking. If you have the patience, you can pick the delicate whole buds or the tiny individual flowers.
Most people never think of eating basil flowers: 95% of culinary basil use is basil leaves The remaining 5% accounts for basil flowers added in various dishes for their pretty look and milder flavor
Pick basil flowers early, before all of the flowers have bloomed, if you’re going to use them. They’ll be tender then. The basil flowers will later become tough as they prepare to produce seeds, so you probably won’t enjoy them as much in your cooking anymore.
When basil flowers are just starting to emerge from their buds is the ideal time to harvest them. They are tender enough with a distinctive texture. However, some enjoy the additional crunchiness when these flowers age. Experiment and see what you like.
Depending on the breed, the basil flowers can be purple, pink, or white. One of the more popular types of homegrown basil is sweet basil with white flowers. The breed you use depends on your personal preference because tastes may differ between breeds.
You have a choice as to whether you add the entire flowering top of the basil plant to your dish or just a few flowers. Here are some incredible ways to include basil flowers in your meals.
To add a burst of flavor and a stunning appearance to salads, especially tomato and fruit salads, sprinkle a few basil flowers on top. Basil blooms make a great addition to most salads.
Instead of adding basil leaves to tomato sauce, try adding a few basil flower clusters for a more subdued flavor.
For basil-flavored salt, process some basil leaves and flowers in a food processor with some sea salt. Dry the mixture in the oven. See more details for how to make herb flavored salts.
Why you should prune your basil:
Basil grows like crazy in the garden, and we like to keep it that way. Because letting the flowers grow alters the flavor of the basil leaves, we always remove the herb flowers from our basil plants. To keep the flowers’ relatively soft texture, we prune them when they are still young. To us, they taste just as fresh and herbal as the leaves. The flavor difference between basil flowers and basil leaves in the pesto is negligible. Consequently, it’s a fantastic environmentally friendly way to enjoy what would otherwise be garden scraps!
Ingredients in basil flower pesto:
1 Enjoy Basil Flower-Infused Water
Water infused with basil flowers is the answer if you’re looking for an easy-to-prepare and cooling beverage for hot summer days. Since they are typically used differently (you don’t want to drink your essence as a beverage, for example), don’t confuse it with the essence mentioned above.
Don’t be afraid to mix basil flower with other fruits and herbs, such as edible rose, berries, peach, mint, etc., to give your infused water more flavor. To make my infusion, I’ll be combining fresh berries and basil flowers, but feel free to experiment!
It couldn’t be easier to make this drink: just combine all the ingredients in a jar and fill it with water. After letting the water sit for at least 30 minutes, strain it to remove the fruit and herbs, and then drink up!
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