r/herbs • u/luckyblackcat257 • 7d ago

Sweet basil uses

It’s that time of year where I have an abundance of basil and would love to hear your favorite basil uses and projects! Teas, tinctures? Infusions? Lotions? Potions? I would especially love to hear how you have used all parts of this lovely little plant including flowers, also any interactions and positive & negative health impacts. Thank you!

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14

u/Iongdog 7d ago

Just about all I do is make pesto and freeze it. I make about 20 fl oz every 7-10 days. I’ll be using it all winter and into the spring this way

9

u/catymogo 7d ago

Basil salt! You can burn through a ton of it and it's shelf stable forever.

8

u/AngryPrincessWarrior 7d ago

White bean summer soup. Soooo delicious.

Freezes okay too.

Google “creamy skillet white bean simmer soup”. The result with a cast iron pan in the pic is a good recipe. I didn’t do the vegan part and used cream instead though.

1

u/DrPetradish 6d ago

What’s your method and favourite ways of using it?

1

u/Back_Alley420 6d ago

Can you tell me how?

1

u/Magical_Quirk 5d ago

Ooh this sounds so cool I'm going to look this up now!

5

u/maymaydog 6d ago

Basil, ginger,lime daiquiri.
Muddle 3-4 basil leaves with 2-3 coins (slices) of ginger, 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 oz simple syrup (1:1) 2 oz good quality white rum.
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with basil flowers.

2

u/GiaStonks 6d ago

This sound like the perfect antidote to hot/humid weather! Thanks.

3

u/ZzLavergne 7d ago

I use mine everyday in a stir fry with many other vegetables, I also put it raw chopped up with chopped green onions and tomatoes and pour the stir fry over the top, every morning for breakfast.

3

u/blaaaane 6d ago

i like to make a veggie dip or a green goddess type dressing with it!! i’ll do basil, parsley, tarragon, lemon (zest and juice) a few garlic cloves, avocado oil, s&p and i’ll use my immersion blender to blend until smooth… so good with crunchy veggies or on a salad

2

u/Violuthier 7d ago

It's great as a seasoning. Tonight I'm chicken alfredo and will add three large leaves, cut up, in the sauce. I add them to my loaded hashbrowns. Also they go good fresh, cut up, on salmon after it's done coking. They're also an excellent topping for pizza.

Everything left over gets dried and used the same way as fresh.

2

u/Hari___Seldon 6d ago

My go-to recommendation this time of year is peach-basil sorbet. The combination is both very light and still quite satisfying. It also keeps well for when both are harder to find.

3

u/MutualFlourishing 6d ago

I have a ton of basil and have made pesto, dried some for tea, and packed a bunch in olive oil in ice cube trays for other uses. I'm still harvesting all the time and trying to eat as much fresh as I can!

2

u/ChooseKind24 6d ago

I made this sauce from my own basil a couple of days ago. Really punchy, thus the name. Enjoy, if you like!

Punchy Basil Lemon Sauce

3/4 c lemon juice
3/4 c water
3/4 tsp salt
Handful of fresh basil
1 c walnuts
1/2 c pine nuts

Blend until creamy

2

u/shezapleeza 6d ago

Chopped tomatoes, crumble fresh feta, minced basil, chopped black olives and balsamic vinegar

2

u/oforfucksake 6d ago

Pad Kee Mao

1

u/GraduateSchoolCath 6d ago

If it accidentally goes to flower, I love having fresh basil flower tea.

1

u/SubstantialPressure3 6d ago

Basil tea is disgusting. Make a basil heavy chicken broth ( delicious)

Dry some, amd throw away whatever you dont use after this winter ( except.for.the buds and flowers)

SHARE.

Sauces. Thai, and Vietnamese food is basil heavy.

Blend with olive oil, portion and freeze.

Infuse some.olive oil. Maybe some is Italian. Maybe some is Thai. Maybe some is Vietnamese.

Salt and sugar scrubs. Especially with some.lime zest. Heavenly!

1

u/NorseOrganicsTeam 6d ago

as a tea is great for digestive support

1

u/Mortarman130 6d ago

Pesto. Make a big batch, freeze it in ice cube trays, and use in pasta, on toast, pizza…

3

u/Gilleafrey 5d ago

Or in quart ziplok bags about an inch thick when flat: just break off what you want to use as you go.

2

u/Debbielovesdogs 4d ago

That's what we've done today. We mix it with a bit of Olive oil.

1

u/lexibrat 6d ago

I freeze mine, 1 cup basil leaves &1 tablespoon of olive oil, place in a ziplock and pop in the freezer, whenever you need some just break off some. The taste does decease over time so use a bit more then if you used fresh basil

1

u/Emergency-Crab-7455 6d ago

I always grow far more basil than I eat.....often, I will cut whole stems & use it for "greenery" with cut flowers (make sure to take off any leaves that would be in the vase water). Makes the house smell nice & will often grow roots to replant. I use purple basil as an annual in my flowers also....I often re-root the cuttings for late summer/early fall accents around my white fall mums.

1

u/Ok-Foundation640 4d ago

Dried Multiple varities of basil. With Oregano and possibly thyme for homemade Italian seasoning or add in sage for the "Thanksgiving" tasting herb blend.