Basil
Fresh basil is delicious and totally different than the
woody tasting dried version. The classic pairing is with tomatoes.
Nothing tastes more like summer to me!
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Health Benefits
There are many health benefits to basil's essential
oil, but this is an extracted, concentrated form of basil. To obtain
those benefits you would have to consume a lot fresh basil.
Basil has
a wonderful fresh taste and is best with other fresh vegetables and fruits.
Pair it with those for numerous health benefits! |
Season-
summer
Size- sold in bunches of varying sizes
Selecting- choose bunches with bright green, unwilted, fragrant leaves Storage-
keep dry and in a well sealed container in the refrigerator Refrigeration-
best used within 2 days of purchasing or harvesting
Freezing and Drying- I don't recommend
freezing or drying it. It easily looses its flavor. |
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Chiffonade
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At the base of the
bunch, cut off the stems. Gently rinse leaves in a bowl of cold water.
Pat dry. |
Slice in thin strips. Add to salads,
bruschettas, fresh fruit, and pasta dishes. |
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It's best to place basil leaves in a bowl of cold water to rinse
them. Rinsing them
under running water can bruise them.
It is best to dry the
leaves before chopping them. They will be crisper and taste better. |
Mortar and
Pestle
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At the base of the
bunch, cut off the stems. Gently rinse leaves in a bowl of cold water.
Pat dry. Working in batches, add leaves to a mortar. |
Using the pestle, bruise the leaves until
very limp and moist. |
Add to a food processor
or the cup of an immersion blender. Process with desired ingredients. |
Bruising the basil leaves using a mortar and pestle really
brings out the flavor. I taste tested this with pesto. I
made one using a mortar and pestle, then an immersion blender and the
other with just an immersion blender. It was like tasting two
completely different recipes. It is a lot of extra work, but worth
it for the great flavor!
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Try basil with |
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Classic
Bruschetta |
Pesto
Bruschetta |
Blue Cheese & Onion
Bruschetta |
Balsamic
Tomato Basil Salad |
Panzanella Bread
Salad |
Basil Pesto |
Pasta with Pesto |
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Pesto Pizza |
Ham & Pesto Croissant |
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