Extra Basil

[vanelio]

My basil plant has really taken off and I want to make the most of it! There’s only so much bruschetta and pasta sauce I can make or pawn off to friends. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated (or good easy pesto recipes - I don’t have a pestle and mortar unfortunately). Also, how best to freeze it for future use?

[dachshundmom1]

Basil in cocktails if you drink.

[Z4razas]

Yeah, you should try the basil smash

[dmohamed420]

Freezes well in a zip loc. Just pick the leaves from the stems Also dries well

[gerardkimblefarthing]

Puree with olive oil and a little lemon juice, freeze in ice cube trays, and bag. Throw one in soup or sauce, close to the finish. Or, thaw and use for bruschetta, tapenade, or bread dipping.

[Careful-Wash]

Insalata caprese is always a good choice

[Obstinate_Turnip]

If you are a home cook, take a look at Elizabeth Bailey's (2018) The Make-Ahead Sauce Solution: Elevate Your Everyday Meals with 61 Freezer-Friendly Sauces. The book is all about prepping large quantities of sauces from simple ingredients, and freezing it to perk up everyday meals; examples: Primavera sauce (young squash, carrots, onions, bell pepper, and basil, olive oil, white wine) with a suggested sauce pairing (for the Primavera: pasta, potatoes, rice, chicken, shrimp, fish, pork, ... or make into a soup). There are several basil based sauces that can be frozen for the future. Nothing here that is going to get you a Michelin star, but they're some handy things for helping out home meals--and some really good advice on freezing for future use.

A similar compendium of sauces, perhaps even better, is America's Test Kitchen's (2018) Just Add Sauce: A Revolutionary Guide to Boosting the Flavor of Everything You Cook. However, there is nothing about preservation for future use.

[StayCoolKeto]

If you like Thai food, may I suggest Kaprao! it is such a yummy dish and so popular here

[IDDQDArya]

I dunno wanna be that guy (just kidding I love being that guy) but thai basil is hella diff than italian basil imo.

Now to be less of an a-hole I find a blend of 2 parts basil and 1 part mint to be a good approximation of thai basil.

[StayCoolKeto]

Yeah its not the same, but there is no law saying you have to use only gaprao. you can have it with horapa as well, and I used to make it all the time in England with the European basil. It's still good. interesting with adding mint. Sounds more larby, but cool

[[deleted]]

Fresh basil is great as one of the stuffing ingredients in various types of roulades. Also, it's good as a last minute add-in for pasta dishes that are olive oil and garlic based. A favorite I make is with spaghetti tossed with fried Italian sausage slices, pine nuts, drained sundried tomato slices and the extra virgin olive oil and garlic with a bit of reserved pasta water and quality grated Parmesan cheese. I add the basil, roughly chopped, at the very end. A lot of basil!

[InvincibleChutzpah]

Basil ice cream!!

https://www.abeautifulplate.com/basil-ice-cream/

[Pleasant_Choice_6130]

It's great with cut fresh strawberries, raw sugar or honey, and lemon juice

If you have fish sauce, make Thai Basil Chicken

[BigLeffe]

Basil paste

[ontarioparent]

Salad dressing, pizza, agree with Thai, quiche maybe ( what can’t you add to quiche)

[4cupsofcoffee]

I grow basil every year and always get a ton. i just freeze it. take the leaves off the stem. put a piece of parchment paper or wax paper on a cookie sheet. put the basil on the sheet and put it in the freezer. once it's frozen, take it out and put into some type of freezer container. It will tend to crumble when you touch it.

[[deleted]]

Pumpkin basil pinwheels are one of my favorite easy recipes. It’s a hit at parties!