Fresh basil is one of the few herbs that "neither steals the show nor fades into the background," as Dorie Greenspan writes in her ode to basil in The Wall Street Journal, which includes recipes for a twist on the classic caprese salad — made with black plums in place of tomatoes — and a sweet avocado-basil cream topped with fresh fruit.
Basil has been admired since ancient times, when it was used to ward off dragon attacks, cure scorpion bites, and attract women (when worn as a hair accessory, naturally). The usual Genovese basil is just one of basil's many flavors; try Thai basil for an anise kick, or lemon basil with fish.
Dorie's recipes also include a corn, crab and basil salad, roasted salmon with basil tapenade, and a chilled zucchini-basil soup that sounds like summer in a bowl.
• Check it out: Basil & Friends at The Wall Street Journal
How do you like to use basil?
Related: Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
(Images: The Wall Street Journal)
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I had no idea that basil warded off dragons. I guess thats why I've been so safe in my apartment this summer =)
I love basil! Sadly, my potted basil plants in my apartment always die on me. I'm on my 3rd one this summer and its already on the brink of extinction. The leaves become splotchily-transparentish (not a word, I know) and then shrivel up and die. Sigh.
I've got six waist-high basil plants going nutso in the garden right now. I've been making pesto, tucking it into sandwiches, adding it to salads, drying it, and sharing lots with the neighbors (@korovka -- I would totally pass some on to you if you were local!).
@korovka- I too was having bad luck keeping a potted basil plant alive. One day I picked up a fresh bunch from the farmers market, put it in a drinking glass of fresh water, and put it on my kitchen windowsill. That was 2 MONTHS ago, and it STILL produces wonderful, perky leaves!! I change the water out every other day, and clear the roots of any rotting leaf debris. Maybe this will work for you?