Cooking with Basil: Pesto, Basil Butter,
Pasta with Basil Cream, and more
Few herbs capture the smell of summer like basil. Although most frequently associated with Italian food, basil is used throughout the Mediterranean. In addition to the common sweet basil, other types of basil are growing in popularity. However, if a recipe calls for a specific type which is unavailable, sweet basil may be used. The fresh leaves, when stemmed and chopped can be used to season almost any grilled food and they are also wonderful when combined with other ingredients for pizza. The dried form of this herb is a poor substitute for the taste of fresh basil since many of the oils which give basil its unique taste evaporate during the drying process. For short-term storage, if the stems are sufficiently long, placing a bunch of basil in a glass of water and storing at room temperature works quite well. However, finding ways to freeze basil will enable you to continue enjoying its distinctive taste year-round. In addition to the recipes below which use fresh basil, we have included two ways to freeze the herb, both of which will enable you to keep a full-flavored supply of basil indefinitely.
