Basil
Bold and sassy!
If you are new to the world of herbs, basil is the gateway herb for you. Basil is not shy about sharing its aromatic flavor and its versatility makes it an easy herb to add to your culinary repertoire.
There are many varieties of basil (possibly over 150!) but the most commonly used basil is sweet basil, also called Genovese basil. I primarily use sweet basil but there are a few others I enjoy as well.
Thai basil has sturdier purple tinted leaves that add a distinct anise flavor to oriental dishes.
Purple basil has an amazingly rich purple color and is beautiful as a garden plant and as a splash of color for a plate of vegetables.
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Lemon basil has a hint of citrus in its leaves and it is perfect for fish and chicken dishes.
Basil also makes a fragrant bouquet. It has beautiful little flowers that will give you a divine fragrance for several days. In fact, a good way to keep basil fresh is to put cut stems in a glass of water. I enjoy gathering a variety of herbs to create an herbal arrangement for my dining room table. Double duty from my little herb friends!
A good rule of thumb for working with basil in the kitchen is to think tomato. Tomatoes and basil are best friends so most dishes that use tomatoes will enjoy a bit of basil, too. Fresh basil is best added near the end of the cooking process to maintain its brightness. As with all herbs and spices, it is a good idea to start with a light hand. You can always add more but an overzealous attack is difficult to remedy.
Recipe
This is a simple vinaigrette that is delicious on any salad or cooked vegetables. I particularly love it on a platter of freshly sliced tomatoes with alternating slices of fresh mozzarella and basil leaves.
Basil Vinaigrette
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
1/4 cup rice vinegar*
2 tsp. honey
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Whisk ingredients and enjoy!
Note:
*I like rice vinegar because it has a mild flavor for dressings. Regular vinegar will work, too. Do not use seasoned rice vinegar as it has additional flavorings.
