Discover Basil’s Best Kept Secret: Develop Your Dish with Basil Seeds

Basil is a staple herb seen as a part of every herb garden or rack; however, it’s lesser known seed counter-part has just as much to offer your dish. An unusual ingredient found in many Indian food dishes, Basil Seeds can revolutionise even the simplest of dishes with its unique texture and very un-basil-like taste. A fantastic addition to refreshing drinks on a warm summer’s day and a transformational ingredient in desserts and puddings, basil seeds are known for their special properties and amazing health benefits.

The black basil seed is fairly small and is very recognisable due to its tear shape; a very similar size as the more well-known chia seeds, their properties and flavour are quite different. Harvested from sweet basil plants they are known by many different names including sabja, Thai basil, subza, selasih, falooda and tukmaria. Before use, basil seeds are placed in water to soak where they gain a gelatinous property making them much more versatile for use in Indian foods. Basil seeds can be found in many recipes online accompanying Indian spices as well as being added to classic meals to enhance the flavour, change the texture, and thicken the dish.

The health benefits seen in basil seeds make them a wonderful addition to a wide variety of dishes and after a quick try of these little gems, you’re likely to be creating your own wondrous uses for them. One of the primary benefits of the seeds is their natural ability to help with digestion problems and relieve indigestion, the fibre packed outside of the seeds is perfect for anyone with digestive issues. The fibre-rich seed also helps to control your appetite, a perfect aid when trying to start a healthy diet and cut down on food cravings.

Despite being small, the basil seed has been shown to lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, a vital property for those with diabetes. Filled with antioxidants, the natural thickener hosts antibacterial aspects that strengthen the body’s ability to fight infections and even common colds and the symptoms of asthma. For prevention and relief, finding a home for basil seeds as a part of your regular meals or even indulging in refreshing and delicious basil seed drinks can see you reaping the benefits of this wonder seed.

The uses for basil seeds are as extensive as their health properties and can easily become a staple part of all your Indian food online recipes. One of the best ways to make use of the special seeds in their natural form is by adding them to your salads for extra flavour and texture as well as using them as star ingredient in drinks. Basil seeds mixed into homemade lemonade is a must for any hot summer day when you need a cold healthy drink to combat the heat!

Our basil seed and berry pudding is a perfect way to include basil seeds in comforting indulgent dishes whilst still staying health conscious. Mixing luxurious maple syrup along with vitamin and mineral packed toasted almonds, this dessert is just one way to highlight the magic of basil seeds, a discovery you just won’t be able to stop using! 

Recipe:

Basil Seed & Berry Pudding

Serves 4

Basil Seed & Berry Pudding - Gluten-Fee & Vegan too!

Ingredients

1.1 cup of almond milk, vanilla flavor if you wish

2.1 cup of plain yogurt, I use coconut or goat

3.2 T pure maple syrup, plus 4 t for servings (optional)

4.Pinch of Salt

5.¼ cup of dried basil seeds

6.1 pint of berries, any kind

7.¼ cup of sliced, toasted almonds (almonds can be bought as whole almonds and toasted on a frying pan four around 1-2 minutes)

Instructions

1.In a bowl whisk almond milk, yogurt, vanilla and the 2T of maple syrup until blended.

2.Add basil seeds and let stand 20 minutes.

3.Stir to move the seeds around, cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.

4.When you are ready to assemble the pudding, mix the fruit with remaining maple syrup (if desired) and almonds in a separate bowl.

5.Divide the pudding into 4 bowls and mound the berry mixture on top. Voila!

6.For something even more decadent, you can add melted semi-sweet chocolate chips to the pudding mix. Make sure the melted chocolate is not too hot when you add it to the pudding.

Click below to get 20% off Basil Seeds. Simply enter code BASIL20 at checkout