Storing Basil
Photo by Paul Goyette, under a Creative Commons license
Fresh-pesto lovers with an abundance of basil from their farmer or gardens can take a tip from chef Jacques Pepin, author of Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook, who freezes basil puree into ice cubes for future pesto-making machinations. Here’s his method:
1. Submerge basil leaves in boiling water and cook until soft, about one minute.
2. Drain in a colander and cool with cold water.
3. Drain again and press gently to remove excess water.
4. Place in a food processor with a dash of salt and some olive oil.
5. Process until pureed and freeze in small packages.
You can also choose to make the pesto beforehand and then freeze it in its entirety in an ice-cube tray. This trick works just as well with leftover wine, which you could then use for cooking at a future date, you lush, you.
[via Care2]
Jenna said,
August 9, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Sadly, my basil plants died during my vacation - a housesitter who never watered the plants and for reasons known only to herself decided to sit them on the concrete in the boiling sun for two weeks - so fresh basil pesto will have to wait for next year. But, I was recently given what amounts to 4 POUNDS of the stuff from my mother (a gift from a friend who owns a garden shop) and have been wondering what to do with it all. Thanks for the reminder it can get chucked into the freezer. Also, very nifty about the wine. I never realizes you could freeze it! Now, no more wasted bits in the bottle, and no more having to open a full bottle when the recipe only calls for 1/2 cup!
Gavrielah said,
August 9, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I adore basil!! But I’ve never grown it. Is it too late to buy a basil plant right now? Or will that have to wait until another time? Can it just be grown in a pot? (I don’t have a yard.) Can ya tell I know absolutely ZERO about gardening?
kelley said,
August 9, 2007 at 3:58 pm
you just blew my mind with that wine tip.
Beccagirl said,
August 9, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I bought one of those $1 ‘Basil Grow Kits’ which comes with seed, tiny clay pot and soil disc. Add water, plant seeds, put it in a window. After they sprout, you will need to transplant it into something bigger and spread them out a bit. I’ve been growing mine for a few months now and it’s still growing! I don’t have a yard either, so this works great for me :) I hope to enjoy some of the leaves by the end of summer. It’s getting there….Thanks for the tip!
My only question is, do I just keep going with this basil plant or will I have to start over again next year?
Frances said,
August 9, 2007 at 5:15 pm
But, um, wine — *leftover*?
meranie said,
August 9, 2007 at 5:54 pm
THANK YOU for that basil tip. Despite what I had thought before, I do not have a green thumb except for basil…
Canadian said,
August 10, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I don’t think it’s very nice to refer to a child as “pollution”.