Thai Basil Sorbet
When one mentions ‘basil’, immediately people think of Italian-type basil – the Genovese variety that is used for pesto and caprese salad. Thai basil, if it’s thought about at all, is best known as a garnish in the popular Vietnamese soup pho.
But with its spicy licorice and lemon notes, this cousin of mint works well in desserts, too. Any variety of Thai basil can be used – we have both Persian and Cardinal cultivars in the Edible Landscape and both worked equally well.
An ice cream maker does its magic by keeping the ice crystals small while they’re being created. If you don’t have an ice cream maker or aren’t in the mood for sorbet, there are other ways you can enjoy this syrup. You can make a granita or popsicle if you still want an icy treat, or simply take the syrup you’ve made and pour it over a white cake, brownies, or even the olive oil semolina cake from our Grow and Graze event – it’ll infuse the cake with a lovely extra layer of flavor!
Above: Cool and refreshing Thai Basil Sorbet
The recipe below makes about a pint of sorbet – feel free to multiply it and make more.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups water
1 cup sugar (192 g)
1 cup basil (leaves and/or blossoms) (about 55 g)
2 Tablespoons corn syrup*
2 Tablespoon lime juice
*The corn syrup is to keep the sorbet from becoming a popsicle without making the sorbet too sweet. The alternative to the corn syrup would be a tablespoon of vodka (or rum). If you’re not making sorbet, but the granite, popsicle, or syrup, you don’t need the corn syrup (or vodka or rum).
METHOD for SORBET:
Bring the sugar and water to a boil, dissolving the sugar. Add the basil leaves and cover. Let come to room temperature, and then store in the refrigerator until chilled (you can go 30 minutes to 2 days).
Once it’s chilled, strain out the basil leaves, and add the corn syrup and lime juice.
Spin it in your ice cream maker using the manufacturer’s instructions, then put in the freezer to finish hardening off.
METHOD for GRANITA:
Bring the sugar and water to a boil, dissolving the sugar. Add the basil leaves and cover. Let come to room temperature, and then store in the refrigerator until chilled (you can go 30 minutes to 2 days).
Once it’s chilled, strain out the basil leaves, and add the lime juice. Don’t use the corn syrup.
Place the syrup in a shallow pan (metal is good, but something it would be okay to scratch with a fork, or use a plastic container) in the freezer for about a half hour. Pull it out and with a fork, scrape the frozen portions into large flakes. Return to the freezer and repeat 2-3 times or until the whole thing is a bunch of frozen flakes. Cover, and store in freezer until ready to serve. When you go to serve, use that fork again to make sure you’ve got flakes!
METHOD for POPSICLES:
Bring the sugar and water to a boil, dissolving the sugar. Add the basil leaves and cover. Let come to room temperature, and then store in the refrigerator until chilled (you can go 30 minutes to 2 days).
Once it’s chilled, strain out the basil leaves, and add the lime juice. Don’t use the corn syrup.
Pour into popsicle molds and freeze! This is a pretty intense way to enjoy the basil flavor – I’d suggest adding some berries to the mold and have a berry basil popsicle.
METHOD for SYRUP (over cakes, brownies, etc.):
Bring the sugar and water to a boil, dissolving the sugar. Add the basil leaves and cover. Let come to room temperature, and then store in the refrigerator until chilled (you can go 30 minutes to 2 days).
Once it’s chilled, strain out the basil leaves, and add the lime juice. You don’t need the corn syrup for this use, but it won’t hurt your final product, either.
The Edible Landscape Team
Pictures by Starla Willis
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 
This unusual and delicious sorbet was served at our recent Independence Day picnic at the garden. We always love trying new ways to serve what we grow at Raincatcher’s!