Lunch of Veggie Pad Thai Tofu: Thai Basil Research

Was researching about Thai basil. Began to learn that there are several, at least three, different varieties or species: lemon, holy, another.

Ran across several recipes for pad thai, in various spellings, with various "main" ingredients: shrimp, chicken, beef, vegetarian, tofu. Made up a tofu version for lunch, including eggs which some veggie versions omit. I also used fish sauce instead of just soy sauce, and yellow bean paste in lieu of suggested fermented tofu. It was very tasty. Had to force myself to leave some for Nancy, which she has now enjoyed for her lunch.

Thai Basils: The notes are from scattered references and don't seem to be consistent and therefore not authoritative. As the taste "is the thing," though, I am finding in cooking with these that, short of an overweening need for "authenticity," most seem to work well interchangeably. Just note that varieties will vary quite a bit.

Thai Basil, Thai Sweet Basil, Asian Basil, Anise/Licorice Basil, anise basil, cinnamon basil (bai horapa, hora-pa, Bai horapha, Ho Ra Pha, HORAPHA, Hun Que): Ocimum citriodorum ‘Thai’. Also common in the cuisines of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Used in curries and with steamed mussels. It releases its aroma and flavor only when cooked. Leaves have strong anise smell. Siam Queen (Ocimum thyrsiflora) is good variety for growing. Another is, Thai Basil 'Queenette' (Ocimum basilicum.) OR Thai Basil 'Horapha Rau Que' (Ocimum thyrsiflora)

Holy Basil, hot basil (bai gka-prow, Bai gaprow, Bai Grapow, Bai Krapow, Bai Ka Phrao, KAPHRAO): Green Leaf & Red Leaf. Narrower and often times reddish-purple leaves. Two types: a pale green or white type, and a red type, with purple reddish tinged leaves. Peppery is perhaps the best way to describe this type of basil. Holy basil has a clove-like taste. Popular basil for Thai cooking. The Thai equivalent of sweet basil, which can be used as a substitute if you cannot get holy basil. "Hindus believe that basil is sacred and they like to plant it in religious sanctuaries. " This variety tastes rather like cloves, and is just as pungent. The leaves release their full flavour only when cooked.

Lemon Basil, Hoary Basil (bai maeng-lak, BAI MAENG LAK, Bai Mangrak, bai menglah, Maeng-Lak): Hoary Basil is an annual herbaceous plant with slightly hairy and pale green leaves. It can be eaten either raw or cooked, and used as a flavoring. It is sometimes called lemon-scented basil but definitely has a peppery taste when chewed. Fast growing plant. Has a lemony flavour with tiny leaves and is usually sprinkled over salads or used in soups. Young leaves are used in Oriental dishes. Lemon basil has a real citrus-like aroma and flavor. The leaves have a smell redolent of citrus. Usually eaten raw as an accompaniment to curry.

Now, off to yoga.