6 Ways to Use Basil

It’s is the oldest and most popular herb with a distinct flavor and a great collection of health benefits.

By Wafic Khalil

Found in cuisines all over the world, basil packs a great deal of health benefits. It works as an anti-inflammatory agent helping to alleviate arthritis and joint swelling. It also has anti-microbial properties and helps to prevent heart disease, diabetes and cancer while it provides lots of essential nutrients.

Basil is easy to grow and works well raw or cooked. Here are 6 ways to use this wonderful herb.

Basis in a Soup

Basil Soup

The possibilities are endless. You can have a vegetable soup with fresh sweet basil, a basil chicken soup, pea and basil, zucchini basil soup, and of course the famous rich and creamy tomato basil soup. Be creative and make sure fresh basil is added into your soup or as a garnish.

Basil in a Sauce

Pesto

The most famous one is Pesto sauce but why stop there? Try it in a garlic basil spaghetti sauce, basil cream sauce,  and of course the most famous one of all, basil tomato sauce. You have a great herb that you grow in your kitchen or you can buy at the farmers market, use it to its full potential.

Basil in a Salad

Basil Salad

I grew up in a Lebanese household where basil is used in many Mediterranean dishes. One of the many facets of basil is it is used as a green addition to lettuce in salads, especially fattouch. The right amount of basil will enhance the flavor and add zest to your salad. Just make sure you do not add a lot of it as it may overcome other flavors in the salad.

Basil in a smoothie

Basil smoothie (sarajanemercer.com)

You already make a green smoothie (if not, you should start making that juicer work harder), why not add a fresh bouquet of basil to the mix. It already packs an impressive list of health benefits and you get to maximize all its health benefits by consuming it raw.

Basil in a drink

Moscow Mule

Basil can be used in alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Try adding it to Moscow Mule. This refreshing alcoholic drink can be enhanced with a fresh cut of basil to give it a wonderful flavor. Try adding basil to a refreshing gin and vodka drink or simply just add it to a lemonade as a refresher after a long day.

Basil in a Dessert

Basil Lemon Sorbet

Vegans have utilized the use of basil in many ways and one distinctive one is its use in deserts. Basil adds a  “minty” flavor to deserts especially in a lemon-basil sorbet, basil cornmeal cookies or watermelon basil ice pops.

There’s no limit for the imagination. As long as you are willing to experiment and let your creative juices flow, you will get more benefits from this wonderful herb. Bon Appétit.