Basil with a bitter taste

Can bitter-tasting basil still be eaten?

The bitter-tasting basil can with no problems be consumed - It is not poisonous and there are no health risks associated with consumption. However, it is so that the leaves of the not easy to nurturing kitchen herbs lose their typical taste and aroma after flowering, in addition to the increasing bitterness. The leaves are still suitable for seasoning Mediterranean dishes that are heated, but they should no longer be used for an Insalata Caprese (tomato-mozzarella) due to the bitter substances.

How can the bitter taste be avoided?

In order to prevent the bitter taste of basil, it is important to keep the leaves harvest before flowering. Individual leaves should not be plucked off, but always the entire shoot tips cut off

Does Basil's Bitter Taste Disappear When Cooked?

By heating, for example, in a sauce, the Bitter substances dissolved in the basil. In this way, the actual, natural aroma of the herb comes to the fore again and the bitter taste fades into the background or disappears completely.

Can basil still taste bitter after drying?

Even if basil dried became, it can taste bitter. To avoid this, when heating dried basil, care should be taken that the temperature is not too high - if it is burnt, it tastes bitter. We recommend always adding both dried and fresh basil to the food just before the end of the cooking process. An exception are dishes such as pancakes or quiches - in combination with eggs, cheese or cream, the Mediterranean herb also tolerates higher temperatures.

Can basil still taste bitter in pesto?

basil can also taste bitter in the popular mixture with oil and parmesan. Before preparing a pesto from green or red basil, you should therefore try whether the herbs have a bitter aroma - if so, they are unsuitable for pesto. If the leaves do not taste bitter, the bitter taste of the finished pesto can be due to the oil.