How Does My Garden Grow: Summer Basil Oil
PUBLISHED ON: 09.12.2015
If you follow my blog you know, I feel most centered when my hands are in the dirt or my mind and body are in my kitchen. Nature provides to us free of charge, incredible flavors, colors and textures. When food is prepared closest to how nature intended it is “simply” the best.
In north Florida summer stays late. It stays long past its welcome but there are gifts to be enjoyed as the long days begin to wind down. This means summer herbs are abundant, and if you are growing basil, it is at its peak.
One of the best ways to reap this gift of nature is to preserve your summer basil with a good olive oil, a sprinkle of salt and a few good grinds of cracked black pepper. What is created is a intensely fragrant and flavored oil that is a perfect addition to soup, roasted vegetables, vinaigrettes and marinades. It also makes for a perfect gift to share with family and friends.
Basil Oil Recipe
Makes about 3/4 cup
Recipe from Epicurious
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen
Oh, your basil oil looks sooo good. We weren't able to plant much basil this year (got back to late and it was all gone) and I sure miss it. We have a few strangler plants, but none as pretty as your bouquet.sam
Rhodesia
Mmmmm this sounds very good. Hope all is well Diane
Angie's Recipes
I don't know why I hardly had any luck with basil plants..your basil oil looks fantastic.
Julie
Beautiful. I've never tried making this before. I should, before the basil is gone for the season.
Tina
This is one good thing about the never ending summer temps, herbs are bountiful. That is truely a great idea, basil oil. Ok, you have inspired me to get the blender out ????
Catherine
Dear Velva, This would be so very delicious spread on so real good bread. xo Catherine
lisa is cooking
I always wish I had even more basil growing than I do. I really think I could use endless amounts of it. Love this oil! Such a beautiful color.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
I need to do something with my basil soon before it's gone! This looks wonderful. I wonder if it can be frozen and turned into pesto later?
Rambling Tart
This sounds absolutely marvelous, Velva!! My friend Oma does something similar with parsley. Mmm. You talented ladies, you. 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I never blanched my basil first. The person I learned from years ago didn't blanch it and I haven't. As soon as the basil is over the top around here, I'll try your method. Yum.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
This is brilliant – thank you so much 🙂 I will miss my basil when the cold arrives.
chow and chatter
must try this
grace
yum! every time i go outside for some basil, i get a little bit sad that the plants won't be around much longer. this is a great way to preserve that flavor!
Barbara
I've made this…and yes, it freezes. Love that color…love the flavor. Simple is always best, isn't it? Love reading about your garden. Velva. Don't have one any longer, but sure do remember!
Chris
Jealous! We didn't get an herb garden this year because of our puppy \”adopting\” that area as his front yard hang out spot. He pretty much crushed up everything but the tarragon, don't know why he let that one live.
Catherine
Dear Velva, The summer simply went too fast! I seem to always be running behind trying to catch up and get in the swing of things. The end of summer basil is something I will surely miss. This is a great way to keep it and it makes everything taste so good.xoxo Catherine
Sue/the view from great island
I love this!! It's such a nice change from pesto, and I could be happy just eating it with a spoon 🙂
Lawyer Loves Lunch
This is such gorgeous writing Velva! And I agree, the best way to hang on to summer is to preserve its bounty!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I add salt and pepper to so many things…why have I not thought of adding it to basil oil. Thanks for the suggestion.
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina
I loved how you expressed your feelings and thoughts about your pursuit of simplicity in this post, Velva. You write so beautifully! And I couldn't agree more about finding simplicity in the dirt and in the kitchen! I've never made any flavored oils before and have been wanting to do so for a long time now. Using basil as a starting point sounds perfect to me! Thank you for sharing this and inspiring me Velva!
[email protected]
Great! Never try basil oil before, sounds good to serve with roast chicken. I like to use chopped basil mix with light soy sauce as a dipping sauce for chicken. 🙂
Nancy
Beautifully written. I live in the tropics so my basil is still going growing like crazy. I love the idea of making it last longer with your basil oil recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Bam's Kitchen
So bright and vibrant! I can think of a at least a million different ways that I could use your delicious basil oil!
Kitchen Riffs
We've been away on vacation, and got back to several basil plants that look like small bushes! So I'm going to be playing with basil this week. 😉 Your post couldn't be more timely — thanks so much!
Red Couch Recipes
I had to leave behind my pickle crock that I used to grow basil in. It was the perfect container to grow it in. My basil is looking sickly this year. Yours looks lovely, and we are hug fans of basil in the summer. Joni
OMG! Yummy
I have one basil plant without much left but maybe just enough to try this idea – I just love it – would be so perfect with my fall and winter soups! Great meeting you at BlogHerFood this past weekend in Chicago. Looking forward to staying in touch and enjoying a virtual friendship until we meet again …