How long do you boil basil?

If you are fond of cooking Mediterranean or Thai food, then you may already know a few things about basil. It is a highly aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family and that is readily available in most grocery stores. Basil is familiar to many, and versatile in that it pairs well with most other common culinary herbs as well as a large number of savory ingredients. While this versatility makes it relatively easy to use, it is still possible to make mistakes. Follow the tips below for the best results when cooking with basil.

Do choose the right basil. The most familiar type of basil for westerners is commonly known as sweet basil. While sweet basil does have a lot in common with other types of basil, it is not exactly the same as Thai basil and others of the 100 or so members of the basil family. Its similarity to them means that it can be used as a decent or in-a-pinch alternative, but may not be ideal. ‘

Use sweet basil primarily for European dishes, particularly those from the Mediterranean region. If you are making Thai dishes, you will naturally want to opt for Thai basil if you can find it. Indian dishes may benefit from the use of holy basil.

Do add basil at the right time. Basil is well known for its strong aroma; however, that aroma can disappear relatively quickly as the herb is cooked. Basil does not stand up to long cooking times very well when compared to other herbs like oregano or thyme. To prevent loss of flavor, you will want to add basil later in the cooking process than you would most other herbs. Some experts recommend adding fresh basil as late as the last 60 seconds of cooking.

Do store basil correctly. Basil is versatile in that you can store it in multiple ways without too much lost flavor when you want to use it. Fresh basil leaves can be chopped and frozen in ice cube trays filled with water. When you need to give one of your dishes the flavor of basil, simply pop one of the cubes into it.

If you only need it to last a few days, fresh basil can be stored upright in a container of water in the refrigerator like a bouquet of flowers. This herb is also usable when dried. Dried basil should be stored away from light and in an airtight container to maximize its lifespan.

Don’ts

Don’t use wilted basil. Wilted basil is not the same thing as basil that has been properly dried. Wilted basil will not be a visually appealing addition to your dish, nor will be it as flavorful as the herb should be.

Don’t cut your basil with a knife if you can help it. Instead, it is often better to tear the leaves. A knife’s edge will blacken your basil, which will make it less attractive in raw preparations. Some people also believe that cut basil is less flavorful than torn basil.

Don’t use basil outside of the summer. As with the knife tip above, you may have a hard time following this tip all the time; however, note that basil is a summer herb. This means that while you may be able to get it year-round in a well-stocked grocery store, you will usually not get the best quality basil except during the warmest months. Basil sold in the non-summer seasons is also likely to be expensive.

Here’s how to make basil tea! This fresh herb infuses a beautifully subtle flavor into tea: add lemon for the perfect combination.

Got leftover basil in your garden? Let’s make basil tea! There are so many ways to use basil, from basil pesto to margherita pizza. But if you want the easiest, healthiest way to use it? Make tea! Alex and I have been making herbal tea recipes with all our garden herbs: oregano, thyme, and mint. Basil tea was next in our list: and this herb tastes best combined with a little black tea and lemon. It adds a subtle, peppery flavor that’s irresistible! Here’s what to do.

How to make basil tea

You need just three ingredients for this basil tea recipe: a bag of black tea, fresh basil, and a lemon slice. While basil is best known for flavoring Italian recipes, its flavor lends intrigue to tea. This recipe has a slightly different method from our other herbal tea recipes. Because the flavor of basil isn’t strong enough on its own, combine it with black tea and lemon for the perfect brew! Here’s what to do:

1. Boil: Boil a pot of water. We use an electric tea kettle (that we also use for our morning coffee).
2. Harvest herbs: Grab 6 large leaves of basil.
3. Muddle: Use a wooden spoon to gently mash the lemon and basil.
4. Steep: Add a black tea bag to the mug and fill with boiling water. Allow to stand for 5 minutes, then enjoy!

Basil tea benefits

Fresh basil is known to be full of anti-oxidants, anti-bacterial properties, and Vitamin K. We can’t promise a cup of basil tea will cure all your ailments, but it can’t be argued that it’s positively soothing to drink a cup! This is a healthy way to enjoy this powerful fresh herb. Read more about the Benefits of Basil.

Grow your own basil

Basil is easy to grow at home! You don’t even need garden space: just a pot and a sunny ledge! You can use it in recipes all summer long (see below). Here are a few of our resources for growing and harvesting basil:

• How to Grow Basil Here’s all about how to grow it: including the important pruning step!
• How to Harvest Basil Make sure to harvest your plant regularly.
• How to Store Fresh Basil Here’s a storage trick to keep this herb fresh for days.

More herbal teas

You can make tea with all sorts of herbs! Here are more herbal tea recipes to try:

• Thyme tea
• Mint tea
• Ginger tea or Lemon ginger tea
• Oregano tea
• Rosemary tea
• Lemon tea
• Sage tea

Love tea recipes? Also try our Iced Tea, Sweet Tea and Cold Brew Tea.

More ways to use basil

Basil adds the perfect herby punch to foods from pizza to salads! Here are our top basil recipes to use this tasty herb:

• Pesto: The best way to use up basil! Try Basil Pesto, Cashew Pesto, Walnut Pesto, Vegan Pesto, or Vegan Cashew Pesto. Or try Basil Sauce: like a pesto without cheese and nuts.
• Sauce: Try garlicky Basil Sauce, like pesto without nuts and cheese.
• Pizza: Try Everything Basil Pizza or Margherita Pizza.
• Pasta: Add to Tomato Basil Pasta or Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes.
• Salads: Try on Caprese Salad or in Antipasto Salad. Or make Fresh Basil Vinaigrette.
• Soup: Add to Tomato Basil Soup.
• Cocktails: Try Gin & Basil Cocktail or Basil Gimlet.

This basil tea recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Description

Here’s how to make basil tea! This fresh herb infuses a beautifully subtle flavor into tea: add lemon for the perfect combination.

• 1 bag black tea
• 6 large leaves basil
• 1/2 lemon slice

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Use a wooden spoon to gently muddle (mash) the basil leaves and lemon circle in bottom of tea glass.
3. Add the black tea bag to the mug. Pour over the water and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the basil, lemon, and tea bag and drink immediately.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Tea
• Cuisine: Herbal
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Basil tea