What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.
Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 15 italian basil recipes that we have shared over the years.
Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.
15 Italian Basil Recipes
Ten Terrific Basil Recipes
How to Make Fresh Basil Pesto
Creamy Basil Chicken
Pesto Genovese (Authentic Italian Basil Pesto)
How to Make Pesto like an Italian Grandmother
Easy Classic Basil Pesto
Classic Italian Basil Pesto (Pesto alla Genovese)
Pesto Genovese (classic basil pesto)
Pesto Genovese | Authentic Italian Basil Pesto
Quick Guide to Basil
The Best Basil Pesto Recipe
What can I do with Italian basil?
Here are some other everyday ways to use it:
- Top whole leaves onto pizza.
- Finish pasta with whole or thinly sliced leaves.
- Blend it into sauces.
- Puree it into soups.
- Chop it up to add to a salad.
- Use it to garnish avocado toast.
- Turn it into an ice cream topping!
What can I do with large amounts of basil?
10 Great Ways to Use Up Fresh Basil
- Pesto.
- Infused Oil.
- Appetizers.
- Vegetable Soups.
- Salads.
- Pizza.
- Fish & Seafood Dishes.
- Sides.
Is Italian basil edible?
Basil (/ˈbæzəl/, also US: /ˈbeɪzəl/; Ocimum basilicum), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term “basil” refers to the variety also known as sweet basil or Genovese basil.
Can Italian basil be eaten raw?
The leaves are also commonly used in cooking, though some people eat the leaves raw. Holy basil tastes spicy and bitter.
Can I freeze fresh basil?
Simply chop leaves, stuff them into ice cube trays, cover with cold water, and freeze. The frozen basil bits will turn black as soon as they thaw, but they will still taste like basil. Frozen basil cigars are a great way to store basil with large leaves that can hold up to brief blanching.
What meat does basil go with?
Basil has a fresh, licorice-meets-pepper flavor that goes beautifully with delicate veal. Add at the end of cooking time because basil loses flavor very quickly when it’s exposed to heat. These herbs and spices are only some of the ones we would recommend with beef and veal.
What is the best way to preserve basil?
Wash and dry the leaves, using either a paper towel or a salad spinner. Wrap the basil leaves in a dry paper towel and place inside a plastic bag. Seal and store for one to two weeks.
How do you pick basil so it keeps growing?
How do you store basil long term?
Trim the cut ends, put the bunch in a glass, jar, or vase of water that will fit in the fridge, and cover the whole thing, or at least the basil leaves, with a plastic bag. Put the whole in in a refrigerator. Basil kept that way will stay vibrant and green for up to a week.
What is the difference between basil and Italian basil?
Italian basil is not a real cultivar (by cultivar I mean “cultural variety”) of basil. “Italian basil” a general term for the types of basil that may be used in Italian cooking. The two types of basil cultivars that are used in Italian cooking include Sweet Basil, the most common cultivar, and Genovese Basil.
What’s the difference between sweet basil and Italian basil?
Genovese basil has leaves that are slightly larger than sweet basil; further, they are flatter and come to a point. It is more aromatic than sweet basil and has dark green, shiny leaves. The taste of Genovese basil has been described as having hints of mint and clove while at the same time being peppery and spicy.
Which basil is used for pesto?
Sweet Basil (see above): The most commonly found type in the U.S. and the most familiar, sweet basil has smooth, bright green leaves that are essential in pesto. Genovese basil is a variety of sweet basil that has a floral and delicate aroma.