Q: HELP! I planted basil from seeds this year, and wound up with about 60 basil plants that are in full swing right now. I can't keep up with all the beautiful basil leaves they're producing, and my freezer (and the freezers of my friends) is already chock full of frozen pesto.
What else can I make with all this basil?
Sent by Rachel
Editor: Rachel, one of our favorite ways to use up a lot of basil is just to throw handfuls into pasta or into a stir-fry. Try this Lemony Ricotta Pasta with Basil, or pan-fry some rice noodles with soy sauce, basil, and a little hot sauce for a quick Thai-inspired dish. Here are a couple more ideas, too:
• Even More Basil Cocktails: Strawberry, Lemon, and Vodka
• Tip: Freezing Summer Basil
Readers -- more non-pesto ideas for Rachel's basil?
Related: Tips: Three Ways To Preserve Fresh Herbs
(Image: Faith Durand)
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I made Basil Ice Cream that was a big hit (google a recipe).
Another good way to capture all those extra garden herbs while the season is hot... herbed butter. Just takes a few sticks of butter and food process them with a few bunches of the basil. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for future use.
view Stone Maison's profile
I know you said your freezer's full of pesto, but have you frozen any basil plain? When we had this issue a few years back, my mom and I just took bunches of basil and whizzed it in the food processor with a little water or olive oil, then spread it into a thin layer in a ziploc and froze it. Then whenever we wanted some basil (not pesto!) for a recipe, we'd just go break of a bit from the freezer. We also did a few batches in ice cube trays. Worked wonderfully and lasted forever.
view mlleErica's profile
Dry them, store them and give them as Christmas gifts!
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/dry/herbs.html
view clampers's profile
Make the basil lemonade from this: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-review/summer-refreshment-sweet-basil-lemonade-090805
It's delicious.
view Priscatip's profile
Stop making pesto? Are you nuts? Buy another freezer!!!
view ddk's profile
I love my dehydrator especially for my basil - it's harder (for me, at least - I live in the humid south) to dry it by hanging. I always think I have enough dried basil, and I never actually do...
I've seen some great appetizers - one here, recently? - that use basil leaves to wrap things. Have a party with basil appetizers and basil cocktails!
view lildebbie77's profile
Can you cut and put a bunch a basil in a big vase here or there? Was just thinking how much I love the smell and beautiful leaves... a tiny sprig in a bud vase in the bathroom too! Also being back to school time, if you have little ones, makes a nice gift for teachers.
view stt64's profile
send a bunch my way!
view dLo's profile
Bring bunches to work to share with your coworkers! My boss did this the other week and I was so thrilled. Since I have a tiny, garden-less apartment, I was happy to put her extra fresh herbs to good use in my own recipes.
view emilykc's profile
If you have that much, you might want to think ahead to holiday gifts.
Dry them - hang upside down to dry. Then lightly crush the leaves and store in a container.
Infuse in Olive oil or vinegar
Homemade basil soap or candles?
view Sassy in SF's profile
I love the idea of making holiday gifts with it!
You can look into Thai and Vietnamese recipes. Basil also livens up pretty much any stir-fry.
One of my favourite ways to prepare tuna: wrap a tuna steak in large basil leaves, then steam it for a few minutes, until it turns opaque. The basil adds a beautiful sweet note to the fish.
view Emmanuelle's profile
Ezra Pound Cake has a Tomato-Mozzarella tart with basil-garlic crust. You could really use about 1/2 cup of basil leaves in that crust. It's delicious.
http://www.ezrapoundcake.com/archives/3547
view happiness's profile
This basil recipe is delicious: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=239
view RebeccaLee's profile