This Thai Basil Sauce recipe is a rich and flavorful sauce made from fresh Thai basil leaves. It is a vibrantly rich sauce that blends savory and spicy with hints of sweetness.
Thai Basil sauce takes less than 5 minutes to make and is incredibly versatile. Drizzle it on grilled meats and fish, use as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and dumplings, or as a stir-fry sauce for vegetables, tofu, or seafood.
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Table of Contents
- Homemade Sauces with Fresh Herbs
- Why You'll Love This Thai Basil Sauce
- What is Thai Basil?
- What is Thai Basil Sauce?
- Ingredients For This Thai Basil Recipe
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- How to Make Thai Basil Sauce
- Recipe Variation - Thai Basil Pesto
- How to Use Thai Basil Sauce
- Wine Paring
- How to Store the Sauce
- More Sauce Recipes
Homemade Sauces with Fresh Herbs
Change up dishes like fish, chicken, or steak with herbal sauces or marinades and you can have a different tasty version of your favorite proteins every week of the year. And this Thai Basil Sauce is no exception.
Thai dishes are known for their rich sauces and vibrant flavors. Thai Beef Curry combines red curry paste and basil with coconut milk for a spicy kick while Thai Coconut Chicken combines coconut milk with peanut butter for a milder, creamier sauce. Surprisingly, you can even add Thai flavors to a pizza like this CPK Thai Chicken Pizza complete with peanut sauce and topped with loads of cheese, or check out this crispy Thai Cucumber Salad for a sweet-spicy appetizer. Whatever you choose, be ready for a flavor explosion!
Why You'll Love This Thai Basil Sauce
Quick and easy to make.
Small batch in a food chopper but you can make a big batch in a food processor.
Simple variation to change it to Thai Basil Pesto - see how-to below.
What is Thai Basil?
When exploring the realm of herbs, basil stands out as one of the most versatile and beloved worldwide. Yet, not all basils are created equal. Among its varieties, Thai basil, specifically, has captured the hearts of chefs and food enthusiasts for its distinct characteristics.
Thai Basil vs Basil
Common Basil (Sweet Basil): The most widely recognized type of basil, often simply referred to as "basil," is Sweet Basil. It's native to the Mediterranean region and boasts large, green, soft leaves. Its flavor profile leans towards sweet and peppery with hints of clove.
Thai Basil: Native to Southeast Asia, Thai basil has smaller, sturdier leaves that are often purplish or dark green. It also sports purple stems and purple or pink flowers. Unlike Sweet Basil, which tends to wilt quickly when exposed to heat, Thai basil stands up robustly to cooking, making it a staple in many Asian cuisines.
Thai Basil Flavor
Thai basil carries a unique flavor profile that's noticeably different from its Mediterranean counterpart. It possesses an intense aroma and taste with notes of anise and licorice. Its spiciness and slight sweetness make it a favorite in dishes that call for more pronounced and robust herbal tones.
Thai Basil Benefits
Beyond its culinary appeal, Thai basil offers a range of potential health benefits:
- Thai basil is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It also contains magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium.
- Thai basil contains a range of antioxidants, which can help counteract damage from free radicals in the body.
- Some studies suggest that the essential oils in Thai basil might have anti-inflammatory effects.
- Thai basil has been considered an adaptogen, a natural substance that helps the body adapt to stress and promote balance.
So if you've wondered "what do to with Thai basil" the answer is to make some tasty sauce with it!
What is Thai Basil Sauce?
Thai Basil Sauce is a versatile and flavorful condiment inspired by the aromatic herbs and spices found in traditional Thai cuisine. Predominantly featuring Thai basil, this sauce adds depth and complexity to a variety of dishes. Depending on its consistency and intended use, there are primarily two types of Thai Basil Sauce: the stir-fry type and the pesto-like version.
Pesto-like Thai Basil Sauce: Drawing inspiration from the Italian pesto, this variant is a thicker, more textured sauce that combines Thai basil with garlic, ginger, chilies, oil, and rice wine vinegar. This sauce is great for topping meat and fish, as a dip, tossing with pasta, and salads.
Thai Basil Stir Fry Sauce: This version of the sauce is commonly used to season and flavor stir-fried dishes. It usually combines Thai basil with other ingredients such as garlic, chilies, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. The sauce is typically brown and thinner in consistency, making it suitable to coat and season meat, tofu, or vegetables in a stir-fry setting.
Ingredients For This Thai Basil Recipe
These Thai basil sauce ingredients can be found in regular grocery stores:
- Thai Basil Leaves
- Mint Leaves
- Jalapeno Pepper or Thai chili pepper (bird's eye chili pepper)
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Fish Sauce
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Sugar
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- You can use regular Italian sweet basil or holy basil as a substitute for Thai basil.
- You can use Thai chili pepper (bird's eye chili pepper) as a substitute for jalapeno pepper.
- You can use tamari or soy sauce instead of fish sauce to make this Thai basil recipe vegan and vegetarian.
How to Make Thai Basil Sauce
- Place Thai basil leaves and mint leaves into a food chopper, blender, or food processor.
- Add ginger, garlic, jalapeno pepper, and sugar to the leaves.
- Pour in rice wine vinegar.
- Add fish sauce.
- Ready to process.
- Blend until you have a smooth sauce. (if the sauce is too thick, add a bit of olive oil to thin.)
Recipe Variation - Thai Basil Pesto
It's easy to make a few substitutions to transform this sauce into pesto. Here's how:
- Omit ginger, fish sauce, and sugar
- Substitute rice wine vinegar with lemon juice
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of parmesan, pecorino romano, or grana padano
- Add 1 tablespoon of toasted pine nuts, pecans, or walnuts
How to Use Thai Basil Sauce
- Topping for Meat and Fish - Chicken, duck, beef, pork, shrimp, and salmon.
- Pasta - Toss it with your favorite pasta or noodles.
- Pizza Sauce
- Appetizer with crostini
- Dip for veggies
- Salad Dressing
Wine Paring
With the strong flavor of basil and the spiciness of the jalapeno, it is best paired with a crisp Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, or unoaked Chardonnay. These wines have a touch of sweetness and nice full aromas of citrus and other tropical fruits that tend to enhance the herbal accents of the dish. The higher levels of sugar also tend to offset a little of the spiciness. If you are a red wine lover, you might also pair it with Pinot Noir or Rose.
How to Store the Sauce
If you have leftovers or want to make it in advance, place the sauce in a container and press plastic wrap directly on top of the sauce. This will help to prevent the basil from oxidizing and turning brown. Seal the container with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze the sauce. Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen cubes to a plastic freezer bag, press out the air, and seal it. It will last up to 3 months. Thaw the cubes in a small airtight container in the fridge overnight.
More Sauce Recipes
Find lots of easy recipes with sauces right here on 2CM!
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Thai Basil Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Thai basil leaves
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- 1 Tablespoon jalapeno pepper seeded & minced
- 4 ½ teaspoons rice wine or white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger grated
- ¾ teaspoon sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 ½ cloves garlic chopped
- olive oil optional for thinning sauce
- Top fish, grilled or baked, chicken or even rice, pasta or to dress up salads.
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender, food processor, or food chopper and mix until smooth. Keep refrigerated.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and step-by-step directions. It was first posted on July 6, 2014.