Tulsi, AKA Holy Basil, The Queen of Herbs, Ocimum sanctum/tenuiflorum, is described as the most holy plants on earth in the ancient Vedic texts.
Its medicinal values are miraculous and dynamically applicable to a vast range of conditions and people.
One way we love to obtain the medicinal and tasty benefits of tulsi is making pesto!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of water
- 150g macadamia nuts (or any nut of your choice)
- 150g fresh tulsi (holy basil) leaves
- 4 x garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp salt
- Half a lemon
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Handful of fresh cloverleaf, sorrel, rambling dock or another leafy green of your choice (we like the sour/lemon-zingy leafy greens, like those above).
The Method:
- Soak the nuts in water overnight. If you want to make this recipe NOW and you don’t have overnight to soak, soak them in boiling water for 5-20 minutes. Set the nuts aside.
- While the nuts are soaking and becoming easier to digest, heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a small pan. While heating the ghee, peel four garlic cloves and remove the inner green sprout to purify the garlic. Place the garlic cloves into the pan and caramelise the garlic until golden brown. Remove from the heat and place into the food processor.
If you do not digest garlic well, leave it out for now, and book a consultation with Dylan from Vital Veda to help fix your digestion. - Harvest 150g of fresh tulsi leaves and a handful of another leafy green for a bit extra diversity. Wash and rinse the leaves under cold water and strain. Place them into a food processor along with salt, the juice of half a lemon and olive oil.
- Strain the soaking macadamias and place them into the food processor.
- Blend all the ingredients until you have a textured pesto.
- Serve with your favourite meal. Take time, perhaps eat with your hands and enjoy the holy pesto.
FAQ: Is it Appropriate for Humans to Consume Tulsi?
Tulsi is also known as “abhakṣa śāka” अभक्ष शाक, which means “not to be chewed or broken”. One reason for this is that Tulasī is considered a Goddess incarnated in the Ocimum sanctum plant. So some devotees prefer to receive her medicinal benefits by worshipping her, having her around the house and using her wood as prayer-beads 📿 (mala). Everyone’s relationship with Tulsi is different and valid.
For more on the medicinal benefits of Tulsi, check out the blog article: Tulsi (Holy Basil) – The Queen of Herbs.