Basil (sweet basil)

basilico; sweet basil

Flavor and role

The signature herb of Italian cooking, with a sweet, fresh aroma. Chopping with a knife turns it black, so tear it by hand or add it at the end.

Typical dishes and uses

Pesto alla genovese, margherita pizza, caprese, tomato sauce, ratatouille. In this book: ratatouille, Marry Me chicken and lasagna soup.

Substitutes

1 tbsp fresh basil (chopped) = 1 tsp dried basil (weaker aroma). For pesto, a mix of spinach + flat-leaf parsley can be used.

Storage

With stems in a glass of water at room temperature, it keeps 3-5 days. Blended with olive oil and frozen in an ice cube tray, 3 months.

Main countries

Italy

Used in this book

RatatouilleMarry Me ChickenLasagna SoupBruschetta al PomodoroPotato Gnocchi with Tomato and BasilMargherita PizzaMinestronePastel de ChocloPasta al Pesto GenoveseBolognese Cheese-Pull ToastieHeirloom Tomato Bruschetta with Garlic Confit and BurrataBruschetta Pull-Apart Cheese BreadSkillet Bannock Pizza Margherita (Italian-style)Rosé Dakbokkeumtang (Gochujang Tomato Cream Chicken)Seared Beef and Smoked Fish Egusi with Scent LeafMortadella and Burrata Focaccia Sandwich with Pistachio PestoGazpacho Granita Tomato & Burrata SaladItalian Tomato-Mozzarella Gyeran-jjimİmam Bayıldı Parmigiana (Turkish x Italian)Chicken Katsu Parmigiana DonPrawn Laksa SpaghettiRed Wine Ragù Lasagna Soup with Lemon Basil RicottaBubbling Lasagna Dip with Garlic BaguetteCrispy Lasagna Cups24-Hour Neapolitan-Style MargheritaMargherita Pull-Apart Pizza RollsCrispy-Skin Marry Me Chicken Thighs with White Wine Pan SauceMarry Me Chicken Baguette MeltGenoese Minestrone with PestoRoasted Minestrone Salad BowlGazpacho Tomato NaengmyeonPastel de Choclo with Knife-Cut Beef Pino and White-Wine ChickenPastel de Choclo Muffins with a Pino CentreLinguine with Blanched-Basil Pesto & Potato CreamKorean Perilla-Basil Pesto Spaghetti with Garlic ShrimpPesto Eggs on Lemon-Ricotta ToastRatatouille Cheese Melt ToastPizza SamosasPopcorn Chicken Sando with Basil MayoCaprese TamagoyakiTomato and Egg Spaghetti (Chinese meets Italian)Tonkatsu Parmigiana

Updated 2026-10-10