Basil is a great herb to grow indoors or out, and the abundance of leaves often leaves us wondering what to do with them all.
Basil is a great herb to grow indoors or out, and the abundance of leaves often leaves us wondering what to do with them all. There’s much more to basil than tasting great with tomatoes or being turned into a pesto, and here’s 20 ways you can use up your extra basil leaves.
Pesto has to be one of the best-known basil-based recipes, and is great on pasta, pizza and salads, or with meat and fish. The classic pesto uses fresh basil, raw garlic, parmesan, pine nuts and extra-virgin olive oil.
Basil has a sweet, pungent, and slightly spicy flavor, and it is widely used in a variety of dishes, including pasta sauces, salads, and soups. It is also a popular ingredient in many traditional medicine systems.
Sauces and Soups
Tomato and basil are a classic pairing, which is why adding some fresh or dried basil to tomato-based pasta sauces is a great idea.
Basil is also great when added to soups. The obvious choice is tomato soup, but try adding basil to carrot, zucchini, pea, broccoli, vegetable or chicken soups.
Oils and Vinegars
This is a great way to preserve the flavor of your fresh basil leaves, without the need for any fancy kitchen equipment. Basil oil can be used as a tasty drizzle over cooked vegetables, or as a dipping sauce for breads, while basil vinegar can be used in salad dressings and marinades.
Herbal butters are a tasty addition to your fish, meat, veggies, pasta, potatoes and bread. Make your own flavored butter using up your extra chopped basil leaves.
Basil salt is very easy to make, and adds a wonderful burst of flavor to your food.
5 Uses of FRESH BASIL
FAQ
What is the main use of basil?
What is basil most commonly used in?
What can I do with a lot of fresh basil?
What is fresh basil good for?
What is Basil & what is it used for?
Basil is a kitchen herb in the mint family. Although it’s native to India, basil is used in a wide number of cuisines, from Italian to Thai and Vietnamese recipes. While sweet basil might be the most commonly used variety, there are several different kinds, each with a unique flavor profile.
What are the uses of sweet basil?
The roughness of the leaves resembles those of mint. Fresh, it can be used to prepare fish, salads, pizza, pasta, mushrooms, meat, sandwiches and soups. In addition to helping to relieve intestinal colic and improves digestion.
What kind of Basil do you use?
Sweet basil is the most common variety at the grocery store. If your recipe doesn’t specify what kind of basil to use, it probably calls for sweet basil. This type of basil has dark green, glossy leaves and a sweet but slightly spicy flavor. Use it to make pesto or a caprese salad. Thai basil is strong and bold, with a spicy, licorice-like flavor.
Why is Basil so popular?
Today, it’s best known for its versatility and distinct flavor, adding herbaceousness to a wide variety of dishes all over the world. Basil is best known as one of the most popular and widely used culinary herbs in the world, however throughout its history this leafy herb has been celebrated for many reasons beyond its flavor.