Lettuce Basil – Perfect for Sandwiches

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Have you grown lettuce basil?

There are so many kinds of basil to grow including lettuce basil. This plant produces enormous, crinkled leaves that are the perfect size for sandwiches. In fact, the leaves are so big and tasty, they can make a flavorful lettuce replacement.

When should you sow seeds?

It’s best to plant this crop at the same time that you plant other varieties. So for instance, you might also seed some Genovese, Thai and Fine Verde varieties as well. That’s because each works well in different recipes.

Still, planting time for all basils is spring to summer. In the Pacific Northwest, we start our basils from seed indoors, in a sunny window as early as February. Then, around March, we move them into larger containers. And, those pots of basil stay in a sunny window for most of the growing season. That’s because our nights tend to get too cold for basil. And, when basil gets too cold, it turns black and gives up he ghost.

If you want to learn more about designing and growing herb gardens, join our online Academy for lessons and printable garden design plans.

How spicy are these big leaves?

Lettuce leaf basil’s flavor is mild rather than super spicy. But, they are packed with flavor. And, those leaves are huge. In fact, we’ve grown some as big as a man’s hand. So, just a few leaves go a long way in sandwiches. Plus, lettuce leaf basil has the texture of leaf lettuce. So you get that leafy crunch too.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy Basil lettuce is on this simple modified caprese sandwich.

Lettuce Leaf Basil Caprese Sandwich

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(serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette, divided in half, sliced and toasted lightly
• 6-8 leaves lettuce leaf basil
• mild chevre goat cheese
• fresh tomato, thinly sliced
• olive oil infused with crushed garlic (or garlic scapes)
• fresh ground pepper

Directions:

Brush toasted baguette lightly with garlic-infused olive oil. Spread one side of toast with thin layer of chevre. Top with sliced tomatoes, a grind of fresh pepper and a single layer of lettuce leaf basil. Slice. Eat!

(Modifications: Omit chevre and replace with slices of brie and thin slivers of sweet red onion. Place briefly under broiler to melt brie. Top with tomato and basil.)