Fresh green leaves of peppery basil are one of the best things about summer! There’s nothing that more perfectly evokes the carefree days and warm evenings. Fresh basil brings an irresistibly herbaceous hint to any recipe, and it can be used in both traditional and unique ways. Try classic Margherita Pizza and Basil Pesto, or intriguing ideas like Peach Basil Crisp or Basil Strawberry Popsicles. Here are some of our very favorite basil recipes: and a little on how to grow this popular herb!
And now, our top basil recipes!
How to grow basil
A few tips on how to grow basil at home! Growing your own basil is much cheaper and easier than buying it from the store. Here are a few tips: Also try: Vegan Pesto or Cashew Pesto Try it on: Burrata Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce Try it on: Classic Ratatouille Also try: Pesto Aioli Also try: Pesto Pasta or Pesto Spaghetti Also try: Gin & Basil Cocktail or Basil Gimlet Recipe Also try: Strawberry Basil Cocktail
You can plant it in pots on a sunny ledge! You don’t even need a garden! Though it’s perfect for a raised bed garden. Start from “starts”. We recommend buying a start plant at your local farmers market or garden store. Then plant it in a pot with plenty of drainage (or your garden). Make sure to prune regularly. Regularly remove branches back to the first set of 2 leaves. Pruning the plant makes it grow large and bushy!
For more on how to grow basil, see our posts How to Grow Basil and How to Harvest Basil.
How to store fresh basil
Here’s another tip on fresh basil: how to store it! Storing fresh cut basil inside can be difficult, because cut basil wilts within a few hours. Alex and I have a found a great way to store branches of cut basil.
Find a large ball jar and add a bit of water in the bottom: then place the basil stems in cut side down and cover with a lid. Store in the refrigerator and it will last for 4 to 5 days, instead of just hours on the counter!
You can also dry basil! Go to How to Dry Basil.
Looking for more basil recipes?
Looking for a few more ideas? Here are a few more basil recipes: 5 from 1 review
Tomato Basil Soup with Ricotta Dumplings Tomato & Peach Salad with Basil Mediterranean Pizza Walnut Pesto with Basil Watermelon Salad with Feta & Cucumber Easy Vegan Pesto Italian Pizza with Pesto Gemelli Pasta with Fire Roasted Tomatoes Veggie Pizza with Avocado
