A look at the popular Japanese herb!
You probably are already familiar with wasabi and ginger. But do you know about shiso? This is actually one of the most popular herbs used in Japanese cooking. While looking over the menu at Hapa Sushi, I noticed an ingredient I was a bit unfamiliar with showing up in their sushi rolls-shiso. I was curious as to what this was and decided to do some digging. Let's take a deeper look into shiso!
What Is Shiso?
So what exactly is shiso? Shiso leaves are actually in the same family as mint. The botanical name for this is Perilla frutescens var. crispa, and it is also sometimes referred to as a beefsteak plant in English and Japanese basil. The leaves may be either red or green, and they are very aromatic. If you haven't encountered shiso before, there's a chance you may have still come across an imitator. Do you know that fake plastic grass in sushi or bento boxes? That's meant to imitate shiso! Oftentimes, shiso is used to separate different items, and this plastic does the same, minus being edible, of course!
Shiso also helps to decrease fishy odors and keep the sushi fresh, and can even help prevent food poisoning. Shiso is often served alongside sushi and salads. It can also be used in tempura, and even drinks and desserts.
Flavor
So what does shiso taste like? The herb has been compared to a variety of different flavors, including mint, basil, cinnamon, tarragon, anise, and cilantro. Like cilantro, it's also pretty polarizing. The different varieties, however, do differ in flavor. We'll touch on that more below.
The Types of Shiso Leaves
We briefly mentioned that you can find both red and green shiso leaves. Let's take a closer look at these two types:
The green variety, called aojiso, is the more common of the two. It is said to have a milder, more refreshing taste than red shiso. It is also available year-round, but the main season in Japan is from May to August.
Red shiso, or akajiso, tends to be spicier and more astringent. Because of this, it is not typically eaten fresh. Red shiso is most commonly used in dying foods such as pickled plums and ginger. This variety is also used to make a beverage called aka shiso juice. On top of being refreshing, aka shiso juice is said to help with exhaustion, digestion, and even anti-aging! Unlike green shiso, red shiso can only be found between June and July.
Where to Buy Shiso Leaves
You may be able to find shiso at Asian grocery stores, but you will have more luck at specifically Japanese grocery stores. They will typically offer fresh leaves, frozen leaves, shiso packaged in sesame oil, and dried and ground shiso.
Recipes
We briefly touched on how shiso is used in food, and I thought it would be fun to include some recipes! If you choose to buy your own shiso, check out the recipes below!
