Shiso – proudly pronounced she-so – is a fragrant herb which hails from Japan. Shiso stems from the same roots as mint and Japanese basil. We love to use this herb as a basil substitute with more floral and jagged edged notes for interesting dishes and cocktails. One can find Shiso taking over many gardens these days, as it’s been considered incredibly fast-growing and invasive, like weeds. (Our tip: plant in a container to avoid a garden invasion!) Look for Green Shiso this summer to use in your cold Japanese dishes – a refreshing dinner plan to impress your guests. If you want to take on a raw-diet challenge, try a chilled tofu dish garnished with Shiso, or stick some leaves into your cold marinades.
Other interesting herbs (and their puns):
Stay Culantro
Tarragone-with-the-wind
Courtney Lovage
Chervil Crow
Hyssop’s Fables