The 7 Best Asian Herbs For Cooking

Some of the best herbs used for cooking come from Asia. Not only do these herbs lend a unique flavor to food, they are also good for health because of their medicinal properties. If you want to know the best Asian herbs that have culinary uses, so you too can spice up food with them, then read on.

Herbs in general are characterized by their flavor, scent, freshness and texture. Some of the most exotic dishes are prepared using herbs mainly found in various parts of Asia. Among the most popular of them are:

o Chinese Chives: Also known as garlic chives because of their unique garlic like flavor, these have flat leaves and are used for flavoring. As the name suggests, these herbs are commonly used in Chinese cooking.

o Holy Basil: Revered in India, this herb is used extensively in Ayurveda for its unique medicinal properties. Holy Basil is majorly used in Thailand for stir frying Thai food.

o Rice Paddy Herb: This herb usually grows in hot climate found in Southeast Asia. Because of its lemon like aroma and flavor, it is used as an ingredient in curries and soups of Vietnamese and Thai foods.

o Sesame Leaf: A sesame leaf is distinctly known for its freshness retaining properties. It is mostly used in Korea for wrapping food or meat packets.

o Beefsteak Plant: This is a pungent smelling herb just like mint and is used commonly in Japan. It is known to preserve foods and is mainly used for flavoring pickled plums by the Japanese.

o Indonesian Lime Leaves: This herb belongs to the lime family and is found in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. It is majorly used in their cuisines for aroma and its astringent taste.

o Mitsuba: This herb is native to Japan and has many uses in cooking. Its seeds can be used in salads while its chopped stems and leaves are used for flavoring several Japanese cuisines.

Most of these herbs are available in food stores and can even be grown in homes. So the next time you have guests at home, use some of these herbs in the food and see them impressed.

The 7 Best Asian Herbs For Cooking