Close-up - introducing shiso

The ‘People’s Bed’ along the fence hosts many familiar herbs, including parsley, coriander, basil, sage, chives, rosemary, oregano, thyme and tarragon. But you may not recognise the larger shrub towards the centre of the bed. This is a ruffled green variety of the Japanese herb shiso (Perilla frutescens var. crispa), related to Korean perilla.

Shiso has a complex, unique flavour. According to this useful overview on the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food site, “[Shiso leaves] contain an amazing number of aromatic compounds, including limonene, which gives a citrus flavour, compounds also found in mint and basil, and others that smell like almonds, wood and honeysuckle.” Why not give it a try next time you’re passing the garden?

Here are a few ways you might like to use it: in a salad with grapefruit, fennel and avocado, or sprinkled on half an avocado; as a pesto base; as a garnish with sushi or sashimi; as a topping for pasta and pizza, or to flavour fried rice. More ideas here and here.

We also have a red/purple variety but the plant was severely pruned recently so you’ll have to wait a bit to try that.