shiso!
Last week in my CSA farm share from 41North I received a package of shiso leaves. I had NO idea what to do with them. The shiso leaf is in the mint family. It is a heart shaped leaf with saw toothed edges and comes either in green or reddish purple leaves.
The leaf combines the taste of basil and mint all in one as well as having tastes of cinnamon and cloves. It’s hard to explain the complex flavors accurately. Shiso is used throughout Asia as garnish, added to cold noodle salads and used in sushi. If you search for recipes on Google, many Asian inspired recipes will pop up. I have had a lot of fun experimenting with this unique leaf and creating new and interesting flavor combinations (as you can see from the photos and recipes below!). Shiso has been gaining popularity in the Western world, appearing in mocktails and cocktails on menus, replacing the traditional use of mint and basil. If you are lucky enough to find some shiso leaves, then I suggest you search for some Asian recipes and head to your kitchen!
For more information on shiso, click here
Check out some fun recipes below.
I have always loved mint mocktails and cocktails and so I was excited to find this recipe. The shiso leaf adds a complex flavor to this mocktail. I also added some lime zest for a little extra zing!
Asian Salad Wrapped in Shiso Leaves
Vermicelli noodles, red peppers, grated carrot, mint, cilantro microgreens from 41North, paprika and cumin shrimp topped with Asian salad dressing and cashews. Yum! Then I placed a spoonful of the salad in a shiso leaf and made healthy rolls. Yum!
Pho with Shiso and Cilantro Microgreens
I love making pho - it’s my go to recipe when I want a quick and easy soup. I used packaged pho broth and then added udon noddles, chopped bok choy from 41North, green onions, red peppers fresh garlic and ginger and topped it with cilantro micogreens and finely chopped shiso. You can really add any combination of veggies to make this soup.
Pineapple, Cucumber and Shiso Salad
A refreshing salad made with fresh pineapple, finely chopped red onion and cucumber. I added a squeeze of lime as I felt like the salad needed a little dressing. I used regular cucumbers as I couldn’t find Persian cucumbers.
I love cucumber salad and adding shiso makes this salad even more interesting. I used a regular cucumber as I couldn’t find Japanese cucumbers at my local store.