5 Things to Make with Your Fresh Basil

I have a ton of fresh basil so I’m going to share 5 things to make with your fresh basil.

Basil is one of my favorite herbs and it is used very prevalently in Italian dishes.

My 5 Favorite Things

  • Caprese Salad
  • Chicken with Tomato Basil Sauce – I will post my recipe on Tuesday (Simple, quick and tasty)
  • Summer Tomato Basil Pasta
  • Topping on homemade Pizza
  • Pesto Sauce

I’m going to focus on Pesto because there are so many things you can do with Pesto.

French Bread Toast with Pesto Sauce – Sliced Avocado and Everything but A Bagel Seasoning

Pasta with Pesto Sauce – You can put pesto on any type of pasta. I especially like ravioli or tortellini because they are available in so many different flavors and each flavor changes the essence of the dish.

Ravioli with Pesto Sauce

Pesto Pizza – Replace tomato pizza sauce with pesto and to with anything you like. I personally like tomato slices, garlic, and crazy enough, green olives

Pesto Salad Dressing – Mix your favorite vinegar and oil with some pesto. My favorite is red wine vinegar, avocado oil, and pesto.

Best Pesto Tip

  • You can freeze pesto sauce. I freeze it in ice cube trays and when it’s solid I take them out of the tray and put them in a freezer bag.
  • You only have to take out what you need and thaw and use

One Last Basil Tip

  • I also freeze my basil in olive oil in ice cube trays. I then have that fresh basil taste to throw into your recipes that call for basil that your cooking in the fall and winter.
pasta with pesto

Pesto Sauce

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Course: Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 minute meal, Basil, pine nuts
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese fresh
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place basil and pine nuts in food processors, pulse until course
    basil and pine nuts
  • Add garlic and cheese, pulse some more, scraping down the sides with spatula
    basil, pine nuts, garlic and cheese
  • Slowly pour in the olive oil while food processor is running, until well blended and smooth; scraping down the sides with spatula. Add salt and pepper and pulse for a few more seconds.
    Well blended pesto

I hope you found this post useful with my 5 things to make with your fresh basil.

Peace,

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2 Comments

    1. I have so much basil! I need even more ideas. Today I’m making Caprese salad with my basil and tomatoes.

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