Martha Stewart once told me that her favorite herb is the Shiso leaf. We often dined at fine Japanese restaurants and the Shiso leaf was used as a holder for sushi. Sometimes called Perilla, Shiso leaves are part of the mint family and they come in two colors: purple-red and forest green. Shiso leaves are rich in iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc, so they are a healthy addition to any meal.

When I recently went to my favorite sushi restaurant, Sansui, I brought them some of my own Shiso leaves and they rolled it into my favorite sushi roll. I used the Shiso leaves to make a vegan sushi roll. I laid all the leaves down flat on a platter and layered them with cabbage and Daikon radish with cilantro sesame oil pesto, avocado, a piece of grapefruit, and sesame seeds. The Shiso leaves are served flat, but eaten rolled up for a refreshing vegan sushi dish. I also used Shiso leaves in a flavorful jam together with mint and basil, which complements many meats, and can even be used on your morning toast. Many things can be done with Shiso leaves, all you have to do is think outside of the box! Shiso leaves can be used to make infused beverages, as a garnishes or condiment, as well as in salads, wraps, and desserts.