Lime Basil is THE BEST Substitute for Cilantro!
I always include lime basil among the herbs that I grow during the summer. The plant and its leaves are a little smaller than sweet basil, and it’s just as easy to grow. It became a must-have herb in my garden when I realized that I could use it as a substitute for cilantro. No, it doesn’t taste like cilantro—but it goes well with the same flavors that cilantro does.
I’ve tried other substitutes, and they just don’t cut it. Vietnamese coriander? Bleh! I don’t like its flavor. Parsley? Come on! It might look like cilantro, but it doesn’t add the same kind of zing that lime basil does. Dill? Yeah, maybe. It’ll do, and perhaps you could add some lime juice, too. But dill doesn’t last in my garden as long as lime basil does, and I still think lime basil is the better choice. Like cilantro, lime basil can add a nice herbal tang to salsa.
No, lime basil doesn’t taste like cilantro—but it goes well with the same flavors that cilantro does.
Why Do We Need a Substitute for Cilantro?
Cilantro is a “love it” or “hate it” herb. Studies indicate that our polarization over this herb could be due to something in our genes, but the negative reaction might be overcome with more exposure to cilantro. However, most people who hate cilantro have no intention of trying it until they like it. If you are among that portion of the population that cannot stand the taste of cilantro, I suggest that you try lime basil instead in your recipes. It’ll improve the flavor of your dish without giving you that soapy flavor you detect in cilantro.
Even those of us who love cilantro often find that we need a substitute for it when it’s too hot for this cool season plant to grow in our gardens. Because cilantro bolts (i.e. goes to seed) so quickly, it is always MIA at salsa time, when my garden is producing tomatoes and jalapeños. One solution is to freeze cilantro for later use when it’s in season. I don’t recommend drying cilantro because dried cilantro does not taste much like cilantro at all. In the past, if I hadn’t frozen some cilantro or my supply had run out, I was stuck with buying it from a supermarket. Now, however, rather than going out to buy cilantro, I can just snip a few leaves of lime basil into my fresh tomato salsa. It’s even better in mango salsa!
Other Uses for Lime Basil
But don’t stop there. You could use this herb with anything that goes well with lime, such as poultry or seafood. Besides putting lime basil in the seasoning or marinade for chicken or fish, you could use it to flavor an accompanying side dish of rice or couscous. I’ve made lime basil pesto to put on pasta and served it with grilled shrimp. You could add it to salad dressings or put some leaves in a salad or on cooked vegetables. I like to make a colorful caprese salad by using several varieties of tomatoes with sweet basil, purple basil, and lime basil. You could also use it to flavor or garnish various beverages, from hot tea to cold lemonade or cocktails. With so many uses, lime basil is sure to be your new go-to herb.
How to Grow Lime Basil
Alas, I’ve never seen lime basil sold in any store so if you want to try it, you’ll have to grow it. Not all garden centers sell lime basil seedlings, but seeds are readily available—even at the big box stores. Just like regular basil, it’s a warm season plant so plant the seeds indoors or after danger of frost. Basil likes well draining soil and full to part-sun. Harvest or trim it regularly to keep it bushy and producing more branches. It’s also good to keep it from blooming, as the the flavor of the leaves alters when flowers form.
All the varieties of basil are very tender plants. The first hint of frost will damage it. You’ll have to give up on lime basil or bring it inside when the temperature gets cold. However, I don’t alway bother with bringing it inside—it can be tricky to keep it alive. If I were smart, I’d plant some cilantro now for when it gets cooler in the fall, when the lime basil will give out on me. Cilantro can tolerate a light frost, and I could cover it to make it last a little longer.
Let me know if you’ve tried growing lime basil, and tell me what you think.
The Gardener Wife 