Are your basil plants looking beautiful and ready to use? Want some new ideas for how to enjoy the basil in your herb garden or patio pot? Here are three recipe ideas for you to try! What do you like to do with the basil from your yard?
Basil Recipes
Watermelon, feta, and basil salad
Ingredients:
4 cups watermelon (cubed)
½ cup crumbled feta cheese (substitute cotija cheese for a different flavor profile!)
¼ cup Italian basil leaves, cut in chiffonade
Seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, drizzle of balsamic)
Method: prepare ingredients, toss together. Season to taste. Serve immediately.
Basil Lemonade
Ingredients:
1 cup plus 1 T white sugar
8 cups water
½ to 1 cup basil leaves (use Italian, lemon, or Thai basil)
1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice
Method: 1. Make a simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water in a small saucepan over low heat until mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Let cool. 2. Muddle basil leaves with a splash of the simple syrup and the last tablespoon of sugar. 3. Combine lemon juice, muddled basil, and simple syrup with 7 cups cold water. Chill until ready to serve.
Lemon Basil Pasta
Pasta to serve 4 as a side dish (fresh or dried), cooked according to package directions
½ c heavy cream
2 cloves minced garlic
¼ c butter
20-30 lemon basil leaves, chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste
Method: Cook pasta according to package directions. In a small saucepan, cook the minced garlic in the butter until fragrant and butter is melted. Add heavy cream and heat through. When sauce begins to simmer, add chopped basil leaves and pour over cooked pasta. Toss to coat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
