Growing and Maintaining/ Cooking with Basil?!
Hey my friend gave me a tray full of basil seeds in late May, i stuck them out on my back porch and water them about twice a week, and they're getting huge!. Is there anything I should be doing, like pruning or anything!?
also, how do you prepare basil for cooking!? Do you just cut it and eat it as a fresh garnish, or dry it out!?
i'm only 18 and i know notttthing about gardening thank you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
also, how do you prepare basil for cooking!? Do you just cut it and eat it as a fresh garnish, or dry it out!?
i'm only 18 and i know notttthing about gardening thank you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
It sounds like your basil is ready to be pruned back a bit!. Try not to take off more than a couple of leaves off of every stem at a time because you don't want to cut it back TOO far, but basil grows pretty easily so you shouldn't have a problem!.
As for how to cook with it, it really depends on your preference!. If you really like the flavor, you can use it fresh as a garnish, maybe to top off some pasta or a chicken dish!. If you want the flavor to be a little less raw, you can chop it up and simmer it with whatever you are cooking!.!.!.put it into pasta sauce, make up a quick sauce with white wine, chicken broth, garlic, onion, and let the basil cook off in it for a more subtle flavor!. You can dry it out if you want as well!. Its really up to you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
As for how to cook with it, it really depends on your preference!. If you really like the flavor, you can use it fresh as a garnish, maybe to top off some pasta or a chicken dish!. If you want the flavor to be a little less raw, you can chop it up and simmer it with whatever you are cooking!.!.!.put it into pasta sauce, make up a quick sauce with white wine, chicken broth, garlic, onion, and let the basil cook off in it for a more subtle flavor!. You can dry it out if you want as well!. Its really up to you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can pinch it back to keep it from flowering and growing but it is an annual, so it won't keep coming back!. It's best to pick the leaves before the plant starts to flower, for better flavor!. You can refrigerate the leaves for about 4 days or freeze it for a longer period!.
I use it in a beef, cabbage, and rice casserole!., cornish hens, chicken with garlic sauce, pesto and so much more!. Just remember to add the basil at the end of cooking for better flavor!.
P!.S!. It is a great mosquito, roach, and fly repellant!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I use it in a beef, cabbage, and rice casserole!., cornish hens, chicken with garlic sauce, pesto and so much more!. Just remember to add the basil at the end of cooking for better flavor!.
P!.S!. It is a great mosquito, roach, and fly repellant!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It DOES get bushy fast, and will blossom at the ends if you don't snip it off (the blossoms aren't poisonous though - so just snip those off) !.!.!.!.!.!.!.Make pesto !.!.!.!.!.chop it and put it into everything! especially anything with tomatoes!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com