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Perilla Leaf Focaccia

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A perilla leaf focaccia in a cast iron skillet.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou

When I was little my grandmother would often send me to the backyard to pick perilla leaves. They grew on stalks nearly as tall as I was on a small plot of rich soil behind our home. I was always so proud when I came back to the kitchen with a T-shirt full of leaves as big as my face. Perilla leaves are easy to grow in the yard or even a small urban garden on a patio. Though they look like large mint leaves, they are tender and mild, with notes of sesame. I love using them for salads and in this focaccia.

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