Unlike Italian basil, which is usually only lightly cooked or consumed raw, Thai basil should be cooked in order to unlock its full flavor.
It is commonly used in Thai curries (coconut milk-based), stir fries, shellfish dishes, spicy soups and pad thai.
All basil varieties are very delicate, and bruise easily. As such, we recommend using the leaves whole, tearing them, or using a chiffonade cut. Thai basil is unusual in that in some traditional Thai dishes it is actually cooked on the stem.
Herb Recipes