10 Unique Ways To Use Fresh Basil
If you have enough extra basil lying around, you can use it in several different skin treatments. You can make an exfoliating basil body scrub using sugar, basil leaves, lime juice, and coconut oil. Make an anti-aging face mask by mixing basil and yogurt.
“One of the best desserts I had in my entire life was an orange olive oil cake with basil ice cream,”
Homemade hair products made with basil are also easy to make at home. To make a basil hair treatment, all you need is basil and olive oil. After blending the two ingredients, simply rub this pesto-like mixture onto your scalp and let it sit for up to 45 minutes. It may help with scalp dryness.
You can dry basil using a standard low-heat oven method or use only the microwave . To go the microwave route, simply spread the individual basil leaves out on a paper towel. Put that paper towel onto a plate. Then, cover the basil with another paper towel. Place the whole assembly in the microwave. Heat your herbs for only 15 seconds at a time so you can check after each round to ensure that the paper towel or herbs aren't catching on fire. Your paper towels do not need to be wet to try this method. However, your risk of the paper towels catching on fire increases the longer you heat them. The basil is done when it is dry and easily crumbles when you touch the leaves.
Mix it into soup
It may at first seem wrong to this herb into soup because fresh basil is often served uncooked. The raw leaves of this plant are simply dropped straight onto the plate for popular applications like Caprese salad. But basil's versatility means it can star alongside cooked items as well. In hot soups, basil can be used as a garnish, where it creates a fresh contrast to the warm liquid below. In cold soups, basil blends right in. Speaking of blending, you can either cook your basil right into a soup, blend it up using your favorite kitchen tool, or place it right on top of your bowl for visual flair before serving. Basil works so well as a soup accompaniment that it's difficult to think of a recipe where it wouldn't play along with other ingredients. It suits recipes like tomato soup extra well, given how the savory flavor of tomato fits right in with the herbace
Use it to brighten up your cocktails
If you're into cocktails, then you're probably familiar with the use of mint in alcoholic drinks, where the herb is an important ingredient in boozy beverages like mint juleps and mojitos. But mint isn't allowed to hog all the fun. Basil can add an exciting taste, scent, and look to mixed drinks, as well. Its bright, flavor brings a refreshing element to the mix, where it often proves to be a little more subtle than mint. Eating an entire fresh leaf of basil is certainly more pleasant than doing the same with mint, in our opinion. So, if you're going to accidentally drink up one of the leaves in your glass, we'd prefer it be basil. If you want more direction on how to deploy basil at the bar, you can use this herb to make a luau basil rum cocktail. The recipe uses St. Germain elderflower liqueur, soda water, rum, lime juice, and ice to create a tropical drink with
Put it in your sandwich
Caprese salads are often converted into sandwiches, such as paninis or grilled cheeses. The combination of mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar is simply too good to keep restricted to just one food form. But many more sandwiches are improved with the addition of basil than the delicious Caprese. Basil works great in sandwiches for a few reasons. For one, this herb helps add fresh greens to the meal where it's otherwise common to put things like shredded lettuce or spinach in between two slices of bread. These vegetables add a new texture, fresh flavor, and nutrients and basil can do the same. Second, basil is seriously flavorful, helping it stand out more like an allium or other seasoning rather than a bland bit of produce. If this intrigues you, consider crafting a. green goddess sandwich. Here, green foods are layered in between two slices of bread
Add it to skewers
Basil can also be added to skewers and not just the kind with mozzarella and tomatoes already on them. Its relatively small, round leaves make basil great for this application, where each bite can include some of this herb. Its color is also great for skewers, where you can draw on different colors of foods to create a varied and aesthetically pleasing look on each skewer. However, if you're grilling or baking, you will want to be sure to add your basil after cooking. The delicate nature of these leaves means that they won't be able to withstand the same amount of heat as other ingredients, such as meat. The herb is used in this pasta skewer recipe, which employs cooked rigatoni, mozzarella, marinara sauce, and basil to create something like pasta on a stick. Of course, basil could also be added to skewer recipes that don't stick to traditional Italian ingredie
Use it in frozen treats
This savory herb can also become part of a sweet treat, where its slightly herbal flavor adds a touch of sophistication to desserts that would otherwise be completely sweet. It will also make you seem grown up when you allow a bit of green into your treat. For desserts, basil might be best used in frozen applications, similar to the way it compliments ingredients in cocktails. If you're up to attempting to make something as complex as ice cream, why not get creative and do that with basil? Use an ice cream maker to combine whole milk, basil, sugar, egg yolks, and heavy cream. People who like floral and herbal dessert flavors are bound to like it. "One of the best desserts I had in my entire life was an orange olive oil cake with basil ice cream," said one person on Reddit. If you need to go dairy-free, there's no need to feel left out, as you can make a basil sor
Create basil candy
Instagram Looking for a truly unique way to use up leftover basil? Simply gather fresh basil leaves, sugar, and a binding agent, like egg whites or vegetable oil. Yes, you're about to make some basil candy. To make candied basil leaves, start by laying out your washed, dried, and separated leaves. Next, get your binder ready. If you're going to use egg whites, whisk them until they become foamy. Next, coat each leaf in the foamy egg whites or vegetable oil. Then, sprinkle both sides of the leaf with sugar. Finally, let them dry, being sure to avoid the fridge or freezer at this point. Patience is key here, as this step could take hours or even a couple of days, depending on the temperature and humidity of your kitchen. Once they're ready, you can eat these basil candies on their own or use them as a garnish for any variety of other treats where their unique appearance will shine, like p
Make it into butter
Having basil butter on hand is a hack for creating an extra special meal or dinner party. You could simply serve the basil-flavored butter with a fresh loaf of bread, or display it as part of a charcuterie spread or trendy butter board. When used with other ingredients, this basil butter will surely increase the complexity of flavors in any dish it touches. Making basil butter could be simple or relatively difficult, depending on how much effort you'd like to exert in the process. If you wanted to, you could make the entire spread using just two ingredients: butter and basil. For this method, simply combine the two using a blender, food processor, or stand mixer. Or, you can mix the butter by hand if you feel you need the arm workout. If your butter isn't very soft, we recommend using one of the kitchen gadgets first. If you'd like the flavor of your basil butter
Make a basil oil
Basil oil is another condiment that, once made, will impart a unique herbal flavor to your dishes. To make basil oil, you'll need ice, basil leaves, olive oil, and canola or grapeseed oil. First, blanch the basil by boiling it for a few seconds before transferring the leaves to a bowl of iced water. Next, squeeze all of the excess water out of the leaves. For the last step, blend the oil and basil leaves together using a food processor. The oil will last for about one week. If you're feeling creative, you can bring in additional ingredients such as red pepper flakes, lemon juice, or garlic. Ultimately, only your creativity and palate limit you, as you can add whatever you like. You might also use exclusively olive oil as the base, though be aware that the distinct flavor of this type of oil will, of course, be part of the final product. Green-hued basil
Make beauty products with basil
Basil can be incorporated into your beauty routine by creating homemade cosmetics. The herb has purported benefits for your skin and hair. According to Tom's of Maine, basil can help your skin by acting as a moisturizer, sun protectant, acne treatment, fungus fighter, and wrinkle reducer. If you have enough extra basil lying around, you can use it in several different skin treatments. You can make an exfoliating basil body scrub using sugar, basil leaves, lime juice, and coconut oil. Make an anti-aging face mask by mixing basil and yogurt. You can also craft a moisturizing face mask by combining the herb with honey. If you have acne, you can make a pimple-fighting basil face mask with basil, lemon juice, and honey. As with most face masks, you'll want to wash these off your skin sooner rather than later. Homemade hair products made with basil are also easy to make
Dry it out to make it last longer
Maybe you've been through every possible use of fresh basil and found that none work right now or you just don't want to try one. Maybe you're about to leave for a vacation and don't have time to cook one more meal. Maybe you just feel the need to stop looking at that beautiful bouquet of green herbs. Whatever the case may be, we have the solution: dry out your fresh basil. This will greatly extend its shelf life. Fresh basil will last up to 10 days when it's stored in the best conditions. But when it's been dried, basil can last one to three years. You can dry basil using a standard low-heat oven method or use only the microwave. To go the microwave route, simply spread the individual basil leaves out on a paper towel. Put that paper towel onto a plate. Then, cover the basil with another paper towel. Place the whole assembly in the microwave. Heat your herbs for onl