Questions tagged [basil]

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What is the conversion of fresh basil to Frozen blanched basil

I grew a lot of fresh basil. I blanched and then froze it to make pesto at a later date ,but I did not measure it beforehand . So I was wondering what One 1 cup of fresh basil is equivalent to how ...
christi ringland's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
210 views

How quickly does pesto lost flavor when kept cold but exposed to air?

I work at a supermarket chain deli, which has some unique food preservation needs not answered by the information I have been able to find, which mostly assumes people are storing food in their home ...
Ian Dalton's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
212 views

Do I have to dry the blanched and cool-rinsed basil leaves before freezing?

I harvested all my basil today. I plan to blanch for 3 to 5 seconds and cool quickly with ice water. (In batches.) Now what? Do I really have to spread out the leaves and dry them before freezing? ...
aparente001's user avatar
17 votes
7 answers
10k views

When to add fresh basil to homemade pizza

I've made pizza from scratch (dough and sauce) a few times, turns out great. I want to try fresh basil on it. Current recipe: Oven, 425° F: blind bake crust 10 minutes, add tomato sauce & fresh ...
Mark Stewart's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there an organic preservative that I can add to homemade pesto to extend its refrigerated shelf-life?

I have a very large basil crop this year for which I am extremely excited. In addition to drying and putting that up for myself over the winter, I want to put up pesto for me. I especially want to ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 127
21 votes
7 answers
7k views

What's a good substitute for basil in pesto sauce?

I'm making some pasta at home with a pesto sauce. The recipe I'm referring to asks for some basil leaves to go along with the pine nuts in the food processor. Unfortunately, I can't find basil where I ...
Yejus's user avatar
  • 321
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

Dried basil leaves instead of bay leaves

I have to make an Indian curry which requires bay leaves. Apparently I don't have them at home. I read on google here that dried Basil leaves can be a good substitute for bay leaves. Now dried bay ...
Ojasvi's user avatar
  • 572
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is meant when a spice is water-soluble?

Coriander and basil are said to be water-soluble. However, I'm not quite sure what this means. If you put the leaves into water the leaves do not dissolve. They are still there at the end. I know ...
James Wilson's user avatar
  • 3,805
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

best way to keep fresh basil leaves? [duplicate]

My basil often spoils after 2- 3 days of purchasing them from the supermarket. I have tried wrapping them in a wet paper towels in order to keep them hydrated, but it doesnt seem to have any effect. ...
user60513's user avatar
  • 675
1 vote
3 answers
397 views

How do I properly cut leafy herbs like basil?

I often cut herbs to top off my dishes or as a core ingredient in salsa, sauces, guacamole, or any other similar use. For most purposes I would want a fine chop but in some cases more of a strip is ...
dpollitt's user avatar
  • 1,724
1 vote
2 answers
394 views

Basil wilting, how to preserve? [duplicate]

I have a hard time keeping basil. When I buy it from a local grocery store, it is perfectly fresh, but when I take it home it withers in a couple of days. I have tried keeping it in fresh water and ...
Drisheen Colcannon's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

I lose the flavor of basil when I make pesto sauce

Okay, I am writing this question as a result of a long experience in trying to make pesto at home :p I like pesto sauce alot and that is why I have decided that I should make this at home. But for ...
Sina's user avatar
  • 185
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How is basil prepared for pesto most efficiently?

I'm typing this with a case of "pesto-finger" - the stubborn stains that take a few days to fully wash off my thumb and fingertips from hours of picking basil leaves (mostly after harvesting all the ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Basil lookalike that tastes like aniseed.

I bought a herb on the market, thinking it was fresh basil. What I know for sure now, is that this isn't basil. It has a taste that reminds me of anise and fennel. It stays a bit firmer than basil ...
hhhhhhhhh's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can basil flowers be substituted for basil leaves to make tea?

Can you use the basil flowers just like the leaves to make tea?
Ana's user avatar
  • 21
4 votes
4 answers
20k views

Is it safe to drink the water that basil seeds are soaked in?

Is it safe to drink the water that basil seeds are soaked in? Also would it be okay to drink that water with and/or without removing the soaked seeds? Thanks and regards :-)
Asan's user avatar
  • 41
6 votes
3 answers
13k views

How can one use Thai basil stems and flowers?

What parts, besides the leaves of Thai Basil, are usable? I am making Thai Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Krapow) using the leaves but can I use the stems and flowers as well?
Mike's user avatar
  • 61
5 votes
2 answers
150k views

Convert fresh basil leaves to a dry measurement

I have a recipe that calls for 12 fresh basil leaves. How do I convert that to a dry measurement?
user32874's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
870 views

Which kind of basil should I use?

I'm new to cooking and I was planning to make a recipe I saw on TV with pasta. One ingredient is basil. The chef on the show advised always to use fresh herbs; he used a kind of vasiliko with large ...
giannis christofakis's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
171k views

When to add fresh basil to a tomato sauce?

Is it better to add fresh basil to a tomato sauce and then let it cook for say, 10 mins, or wait till the end and add just before serving?
user1085's user avatar
  • 265
3 votes
1 answer
513 views

Basil Pesto and Cream Cheese dip

I made a dip with basil pesto covering cream cheese with grated parmesan cheese over it all. Can I keep the dip (tightly covered) for 4 days without the pesto interacting with the cheese? The ...
Jill E.'s user avatar
  • 31
8 votes
2 answers
4k views

To achieve maximum flavour is it better to cut or tear basil leaves?

When I add basil to a dish should I tear or cut basil leaves? Does it matter?
dibs's user avatar
  • 203
8 votes
5 answers
59k views

Basil - to wash or not to wash? Best practices?

I know that washing basil weakens it's flavor significantly. I often buy it from local supermarkets where everyone can touch it, that's why I just have to wash it. But even when I buy organic basil, I ...
Sven's user avatar
  • 1,969
1 vote
1 answer
112 views

Painted Pony beans pate

I'm going to make a pate using Painted Pony beans as a base. I want to add roasted walnuts, but I don't know whether basil and garlic would be acceptable to put to the dish. Would this make for a ...
lexeme's user avatar
  • 113
5 votes
2 answers
6k views

Would one use holy basil to make pesto sauce? Are there other culinary uses?

I got some holy basil seeds (via mail) from a guy on an internet forum. I planted them and they are growing nicely. They taste similar to thai basil. Would one use holy basil to make pesto sauce? Are ...
lamwaiman1988's user avatar
9 votes
14 answers
164k views

How do I neutralize a strong garlic flavor?

I recently made some pesto from scratch and my end result, while delicious, was overpowered by a strong garlic flavor, and not entirely in a good way. I'm talking about that sharp, spicy flavor that ...
rageear's user avatar
  • 663
8 votes
7 answers
237k views

Does pesto go bad?

I have some basil pesto but I'm not sure how long its fridge life is. It is in a sealed container. How long does it last before it is not safe to eat anymore?
Mark Theunissen's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
17k views

How to reduce bitterness of Basil?

I had some fresh Basil which was going dry, so I decided to make it into a sour cream dip (don't ask me why I didn't think of making a simple pesto before I added the sour cream).. The final product (...
notthetup's user avatar
  • 1,185
4 votes
3 answers
19k views

1/4 cup of shredded basil OR 1/4 cup of basil that is then shredded?

I am thinking of making a Chicken Parmigiana that I found on the Lidia's Italy website - http://lidiasitaly.com/recipes/detail/398. The recipe calls for "1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, shredded." I am ...
Rob's user avatar
  • 41
15 votes
7 answers
256k views

When basil gets brown spots, is it still usable?

When I store basil in the fridge, sometimes it gets brown spots. Is it still usable? Is that valid also for Thai basil? Throwing it all away after 2-3 days seems such a waste. Also, how can I prevent ...
Jenn's user avatar
  • 940
10 votes
3 answers
28k views

What part to use from fresh Basil leaves?

I was wondering what am I supposed to cut from basil leaves, do I only use the “blade” until the petiole or I should cut that too? I know some things must be chopped in the right places because it ...
Martin Marconcini's user avatar
20 votes
14 answers
112k views

What uses are there for basil flowers?

I have tons of basil in my herb spiral. However, this stuff is precious, and I always feel bad when I throw away the basil flowers when I make pesto sauce. Is there a way to use the basil flowers ...
18 votes
9 answers
37k views

Fresh basil storage

How should fresh basil be stored? The packaging suggests that the optimal temperature is around 50°F, but I can't think of anywhere in an average kitchen at that temperature. A pantry is too warm, and ...
Tesserex's user avatar
  • 1,780