RECIPE: REC: Thai Beef Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce from Serious Eats....oooh....la...la....

[traca]

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/08/grilling-thai-beef-rolls-with-sweet-chili-sauce-recipe.html?utm_source=Serious+Eats+Recipe+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f28dbcd0a8-Serious_Eats_Recipe_Newsletter_August_3_2008&utm_medium=email

 

[lorijean]

I'm not that familiar with Thai cooking - what is Thai basil and

what could you use instead of Thai chilies? Thanks

 

[cactussue]

OMG those look incredible! Got to get to the House of Rice today for thai basil and chilis! In the

photo it almost looks like slices of beef rather than ground chuck, but my eyesight is not to be trusted. Can't wait to try.

 

[cactussue]

An authority on Thai cuisine might be better, but Thai basil has a distinct taste, almost a cross

between mint and basil (which I've seen as a substitute since it's hard to find). I've substituted the really tiny chilies from the grocery store for Thai chilies. They are super small and are green and/or red. Maybe they are serrano?? This recipe only calls for 1 Tbsp. so it won't make that big of a difference. Maybe you could use a basil and a mint leaf for the Thai basil.

 

[karennoca]

The Thai Basil that I grow in my garden has very small leaves. Certainly not conducive to wrapping

anything. There must be different kinds?

 

[carol-whidbey-is]

I just finished making the Thai salad @ post 11734

The sauce is really good. Can't wait to taste it tonight. And I just saw these so decided to make also. Thank you for posting. I am going to just add basil to the mix. I also added garlic of course.

 

[marilynfl]

It might be Holy Basil (rau que) found in Vietnamese stores.

Their leaves are large enough to wrap as in the photo and don't have much purple on them. They have a gentle soft and subtle touch of licorice and mint....not as strong as Italian basil, which I think could overwhelm a Thai or Vietnamese dish if using a full cup of it.

I've also bought Thai basil at a Thai grocer and the leaves were much smaller with more purple. In the hot chicken dish that I made 3 times (twice with holy basil and once with Thai basil) I thought the holy added more to the dish than the smaller Thai basil.

 

[marilynfl]

I certainly pulled me in.

 

[angak]

I thought the same thing---the thai basil I have seen is very tiny. looks like regular basil for

wrapping, or are there several varieties of "thai" basil?

 

[patbastrop]

The leaves are smaller, but big enough to wrap and skewer -- this looks good!!! Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_basil

 

[traca]

Here's a bit more on basil in the Asia Food Glossary

http://www.asiafood.org/glossary_1.cfm?alpha=B&wordid=3221&startno=1&endno=25