How to eat Basil

[johnk]

I'm growing some basil but I've no idea what you're supposed to do with it, any ideas?

[JoolsTwo]

It's great in salads, in tomato sauces for pasta dishes. Brie and basil sadwich/rolls. I'm sure there are lots of others too.

[Jules001]

fresh basil is lovely and has so many uses. One of the simplest ways, I use mine is to slice some tomatoes, don't use them straight from the fridge, I pop them onto a sunny windowsill to warm up, some mozarella cheese and some torn basil leaves, plate up attractively and drizzle some olive oil (good stuff) and some balsamic vinegar over and serve with a hunk of crusty bread to mop up the juices. Although now on a diet, my mozarella has been replaced with extra light Phildelphia cheese, still tastes good though.

[merciasounds]

Basil is great with tomatoes and tomato based dishes such as soup, lasagne and pizza. A few leaves tosed into a salad bowl can add a 'spiciness' to a boring green salad, or whizzed to a paste with olive oil, garlic and toasted pinenuts to make 'pesto' sauce to go on cooked pasta

[Barmaid]

You can make your own pesto if you have loads.

I do a similar salad to Jules with beefsteak tomatoes, red onions and basil with some seasoning and a drizzle of oil. Goes really well with pasta.

[follyfancier]

try it on strawberries too

[johnk]

I can't wait for this to grow now! Barmaid, what's pesto, how do you make it?

[merciasounds]

I gave you the recipe if you look john - take two good handfulls of basil leaves put in food processor and pour in 1/4 pint of olive oil, two cloves of garlic and about 4 tablespoons of pinenuts and a grind of black pepper whizz until you have a thickish sauce

[Quassia]

Absolutely love Basil, growing some as we speak!

[york310]

I love this Nigel slaters spicy sausage pasta with basil.

http://www.foodandwin...age-basil-and-mustard

[johnk]

Mercia, sorry, Senior moment there!!!

[Clanad]

A wonderful treat just before an Italian meal...

Bruschetta:

Slice a loaf of Foccacia about 1/2 inch thick, brush with the olive oil and toast in the oven just until slightly browned... then, in a bowl mix:
6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
(We boil the tomatoes just for a minute until the skin bubbles and then peel it off before thickly chopping them.)
Place the mixed ingredients on the Foccacia slices... eat...

We often place the mixed ingredients on the table with the toasted Foccacia and let the guests build their own bruschetta...