When you have a large crop of basil from the garden or farmstand, you don't have time to casually include it in complicated recipes or to frantically figure out how to use it up before it goes bad without getting sick of it. You want to make the most of your harvest and to actually enjoy it.
Here at Plant to Plate, we like to keep things simple! Here are some of my favorite ways to use or preserve basil:
- Pair it with tomatoes in a wide variety of dishes -- sauces, salads, egg dishes, casseroles, pasta dishes, pasta bakes, and more.
- Make a Caprese salad with basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
- Make a Simple Salad with basil, strawberries, and mozzarella. Basil makes a great companion to strawberries in general.
- Use it as Decor in an Interesting Salad. (Wondering why I capitalized those letters? Read more about Interesting Salads here!)
- Make tomato basil soup. Combine with tomatoes, garlic, and chicken broth or veggie broth to make one of the simplest classic soups. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add it to other soups and broths.
- Add it to sandwiches, paninis, and grilled cheeses.
- Add it to egg dishes like omelets and quiches.
- Combine it with penne, green beans, and almonds.
- Add it to other pasta dishes, alone or with oregano.
- Toss it with corn and bell peppers for a summery side.
- Pair it with blueberries, as a standalone side or in a variety of dishes.
- Make pesto. The classic pesto includes basil along with pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan.
- Make basil tea. Although not as widely known as its relative, tulsi (a.k.a. holy basil), common basils have many of the same benefits. Try a tea with basil leaves on their own or add them to a blend for a warming carminative boost.
- Make strawberry-basil jam. In some regions, late strawberry season overlaps with early basil season, especially for early basils, so this can be a great way to eat seasonally and to preserve both crops.
- Add it to pickles. Basil can be added to many traditional pickling and quick-pickling combinations.
- Dry or dehydrate it to save it for later. See our How to Dry Your Herbs articles here for more information.
- Make basil ice cubes to later add to beverages like water, iced tea, and smoothies as well as soups and broths. Learn how to make herbal ice cubes in our Freezing Overview article here.
- Freeze it directly. You don't have to make basil into ice cubes to freeze it. You can also chop it finely and put it in a freezer bag on its own.
Further Reading
Growing basil? Check out these quick facts like its best growing conditions, companion plants, and expected yields.
Basil is also featured in these articles:
- Quick Facts: Growing Basil
- The Interesting Salad Protocol: How to Build an Interesting Salad
- How to Preserve Your Harvest: Freezing