Chef John Ash

A variety of recipes featuring shiso leaves!

Shiso leaves are an aromatic herb from the same botanical family as mint that traditionally accompany sushi and sashimi. They are meant to be eaten along with the main item on the plate.

If you’ve ever had a tray of sushi or a Japanese bento box and noticed those strips of fake plastic grass separating the items, that’s supposed to replicate of shiso leaves, with the plastic trimmed to represent the shiso leaves’ characteristic ruffled, saw-toothed edges.

That’s because shiso is traditionally used to separate the items in a tray or platter, to keep the flavors separate. Shiso leaves are also credited with antibacterial properties. They contain compounds called phytoncides, which are believed to help prevent the spoilage of food that is wrapped in the leaves. For centuries the Japanese have used shiso leaves to help slow the spoilage of raw fish and seafood.