Fresh green leaves of peppery basil are one of the best things about summer! Nothing is more reminiscent of carefree days and warm evenings. The fresh herb adds an irresistibly herbaceous touch to any recipe and can be used in both traditional and unique ways. Try these basil recipes that we have put together for you!
Tomato basil sauce for spaghetti
This tomato basil sauce has a rustic texture and a spicy, tomato flavor.Fresh basilgives it just the right peppery nuance! There are only a handful of ingredients for this sauce. As with many Italian-style recipes, this is about simplification at its finest. Just a few ingredients create a huge taste. What you need:
Ingredients:
30 g of olive oil
4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
800g whole canned tomatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
20g coarsely chopped basil leaves, plus more for garnish
200 g Spaghetti or Bucatini Nudeln
Preparation:
- Add the olive oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 30 to 45 seconds.
- Add the whole tomatoes with the liquid from the can. Use a potato masher to mash the tomatoes into small pieces.
- Add the kosher salt and chopped basil leaves and bring to a vigorous simmer.
- Cover the pot with a lid slightly ajar and simmer over high heat until the sauce thickens, 10 to 12 minutes. If you prefer a smoother consistency, gently puree it in a regular blender or with a hand blender until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve with spaghetti.
Make your own basil aioli
We are going to make this basil aioli with mayonnaise. This makes it quick and easy to prepare. You don't even need a blender or food processor!
Ingredients:
12 large basil leaves or 2 tablespoons very finely chopped basil
1 small clove of garlic
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar or lemon juice
½ teaspoon yellow mustard
80 g high-quality mayonnaise (vegan if desired)
Preparation:
- Mince the garlic as finely as possible. Then crush it with the knife blade and grind it into a paste. (Alternatively, you can process all ingredients in a food processor to form a smooth paste.)
- Hack thatBasil so fineas possible.
- Whisk together the garlic and basil with the white wine vinegar, yellow mustard and mayonnaise. Keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Recipes with basil – aromatic pizza
Ingredients:
1 ball of pizza dough
150 g basil pesto (as you prepare it yourself,find out here)
120 g of shredded mozzarella cheese
20 g Parmesan cheese
1 pinch of dried basil
Semolina flour or corn flour, for dusting the pizza stone
1 handful of fresh basil leaves
Preparation:
- Make the pizza dough: Prepare the dough according to the Best Pizza Dough or Thinnest Pizza Dough recipe. (The preparation takes about 15 minutes, the resting time 45 minutes.)
- Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat it to 260°C or preheat your pizza oven.
- Prepare the topping: Make the basil pesto. Thinly slice the fresh basil (or leave it whole if you prefer).
- Make the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza stone with corn or semolina flour (if you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet). However, investing in a pizza plate is worth it!
- Stretch the dough into a circle. Then carefully place the dough on the pizza plate.
- Spoon the pesto onto the dough and spread it with the back of the spoon.
- Then spread the mozzarella cheese on top in an even layer, then the Parmesan. Add a pinch of dried basil and, if desired, a pinch of kosher salt (most pestos are salty enough, but it depends on your pesto and cheese).
- Use the pizza peel to carefully place the pizza on the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
- Top with the basil leaves. Cut into pieces and serve immediately.
Basil Recipes: Gin Basil Smash
This is one of the unique basil recipes for summer. The Gin Basil Smash is a cocktail made from gin, basil and fresh lemon juice, a variation of the popular Whiskey Smash. This variant of gin was invented in 2008 by a man named Jörg Meyer, owner of the German bar Le Lion, who published the recipe on his website. The drink became an international success and is now produced all over the world.
Ingredients:
8 to 10 large basil leaves, plus more for garnish
80 g Gin
30g lemon juice
30g simple syrup
Ice cream, for serving (try clear ice cream)
Preparation:
- Place the basil leaves in a cocktail shaker and muddle (lightly puree).
- Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to cocktail shaker.
- Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until the drink is cold.
- Strain the drink into a lowball glass filled with ice. If desired, top up with a splash of soda water. Garnish with additional basil leaves.
Salmon with lemons and cabbage
This is one of the easy basil recipes for flaky, fork-tender salmon wrapped in foil.
Ingredients:
2 Lachsfilets
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄8teaspoon of salt
1⁄8teaspoon of pepper
Lemon wedges, optional
Preparation:
- Prepare oven or grill for medium heat.
- Place each fillet, skin side down, on a piece of heavy-duty foil.
- Mix melted butter, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and pour over the salmon. Fold the foil around the fish and seal tightly.
- Cook in the oven or covered broiler until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork, 10-15 minutes.
- Carefully open the foil to allow the steam to escape. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
