Basil Exposition
Basil is such a versatile herb. It’s used in Italian cooking, Thai cooking and in Vietnamese cooking–just to name a few. It has a bright, clean flavor that adds a refreshing, crisp note to dishes (or even beverages). I’ve used it to make pesto and I love to use it in noodle soups to add an element of surprise. Summer is the perfect time to add basil to garden salads, stir-fries, cold beverages and more. Here are some links to recipes featuring basil.
**Note**: Basil doesn’t keep very well in the fridge. I suggest using fresh basil within a few days of purchase for best results. Or you can grow your own basil and add some beauty to a kitchen window or balcony!
First, here are a few quick uses for basil:
1.) Sprinkle finely chopped basil over salads. Fresh basil is fabulous on a bbq-ranch salad with chicken, corn, black beans and a creamy dressing over romaine lettuce.
2.) Add basil to lemonade for an interesting twist. Try making a watermelon lemonade with a quick sprinkle of basil or a few basil leaves at the top of the glass.
3.) Make a quick curry with rice and sprinkle basil on top along with chopped peanuts or almonds.
And now, the recipes:
Elise over at Simply Recipes has some great recipes featuring basil including Fresh Basil Pesto, Tomato and Basil Bruschetta, and
Basil Chicken in a Coconut Curry Sauce.
Epicurean.com features basil in recipes ranging from Tomato-Basil Soup to Creamy Basil Dressing to Red Snapper with Basil Lime Sauce.
Basil Mojito, anyone?
Basil Martinis and Basil Limeade also sound so cool!
And, when in doubt, basil can provide a great de-stressing activity:
“Pounding fragrant things — particularly garlic, basil, parsley — is a tremendous antidote to depression. But it applies also to juniper berries, coriander seeds and the grilled fruits of the chilli pepper. Pounding these things produces an alteration in one’s being — from sighing with fatigue to inhaling with pleasure. The cheering effects of herbs and alliums cannot be too often reiterated. Virgil’s appetite was probably improved equally by pounding garlic as by eating it.â€?–Patience Gray, cookery author
August 28th, 2007 at 9:06 am
You can really extend the life of your basil (and all other herbs) by wrapping them in damp paper towels.