Spice up your cooking with these 5 basil hacks
What's the story
Basil, the fragrant herb with aromatic leaves, is a staple in most kitchens.
But its versatility goes beyond the traditional uses, giving you plenty of innovative ways to spice things up.
From infusing oils to whipping up refreshing beverages, basil can turn ordinary dishes into extraordinary ones.
Here are five exciting ways to innovate with basil and add some fresh ideas to your cooking repertoire.
Oil infusion
Infuse oils for flavorful dishes
Infusing oils with basil is a simple but effective way to add depth and flavor to several dishes.
Simply heat olive oil on low flame and add fresh basil leaves to it.
This fragrant oil can be drizzled over salads or pasta.
The infusion process allows the essential oils from basil leaves to blend seamlessly with olive oil, enhancing its taste profile without overpowering other ingredients.
Beverage innovation
Create refreshing basil beverages
Basil can also be used to craft refreshing drinks that are flavorful and aromatic.
By muddling fresh basil leaves with lemon juice and sugar, before adding sparkling water or soda, one can create a delightful beverage perfect for warm days.
The combination of citrus and herbal notes makes for a unique twist on traditional lemonade or soda recipes.
Sweet enhancements
Enhance desserts with basil syrup
Basil syrup offers an unexpected yet delicious way to elevate desserts.
To make it, simply simmer equal parts water and sugar until dissolved before adding fresh basil leaves. Let the mixture steep until it reaches your desired intensity of flavor.
This syrup goes well with fruit salads or as an accompaniment drizzled over ice cream or yogurt.
Pesto creativity
Experiment with pesto variations
While traditional pesto, which is prepared with basil, is much-loved, experimenting with its variations can take you to exciting new flavors.
Try adding different nuts, say almonds instead of pine nuts, or sun-dried tomatoes for added depth in taste profiles.
They stay true to the classic essence of pesto sauce that goes beautifully with pasta dishes.
Baking innovation
Incorporate basil into savory bakes
Adding chopped fresh basil to savory baked goods, be it breads or muffins, gives them an aromatic touch.
This makes them even more appealing without overpowering other flavors that are already there in these treats themselves.
It balances out rich cheeses commonly used in these recipes, while giving subtle hints with each bite taken by the people relishing them.