5 Great Uses for Fresh Basil!

July 15, 2010

I walked outside this morning and couldn’t help but notice that my basil bushes are booming!  Last weekend, when I sent Rick into the garden for some herbs, he needed a lesson in identification, and then was astounded that we had four substantial basil bushes competing for attention.

Basil is one of my personal favorites.  I grow it year round.  Just smelling my hands after I have picked basil makes me feel the lightness of summer.  So what do you do with four basil bushes?  EAT!

5 Easy Ways to Use Fresh Basil

 

1. Add flavor to scrambled eggs – just cut up a couple of leaves and add.
2. Add flavor to tossed green salad – toss in a handful of leaves whole
3. Make basil sauce for chicken or fish – just throw some basil, olive oil and lemon juice in you blender or food processor and drizzle over the food while cooking
4. Fresh Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella salad (Caprese)-  use more than just your basil: Alternate slices of fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with basil, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette (proportions to your taste, but don’t use much because the fresh taste is best!)
5. Classic Pesto – The real reason we have four basil bushes.  Pesto is the family favorite. While this recipe is basic, feel free to adjust to what your family likes – we like extra garlic in ours. With garlic, parmesan and pine nuts it goes on everything from pasta to pizza, and it uses cups at a time!

 

Bon Appétit!

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Filed under: Cooking Tips, Easy Meal Ideas, Healthy Living

Tags: basil recipes, easy recipes, fresh basil, fresh pesto, pesto