Board of Basil

[somegeek]

This is a great way to preserve your basil in the freezer. We read about making cubes of basil, but this board method takes up less space for us.

First, rinse the basil and remove the leaves from the stems...
[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_1.jpg[/img]

After straining, I put them into a salad spinner to separate any extra water from the leaves.

Next, roughly chop the leaves. This is not really necessary, however they will lay down a little better in the bag.

[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_2.jpg[/img]

Toss with some olive oil. I used about 1/4C here.

[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_3.jpg[/img]

Next, place into a zip top bag, lay flat and work the basil into a relatively even layer, place a cutting board on top, zip about 3/4 shut, press down to get out any extra air and then zip closed.

[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_4.jpg[/img]

You have a board of basil. When you need some, you can easily break off chunks to thaw and cook with.

[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_5.jpg[/img]

This is the biggest basil leaf I've seen in our garden so far.

[img]https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/somegeek_basil_board_6.jpg[/img]

Hope this helps someone pondering preserving their basil. It's nice to break this out for pizza or the like during the winter and get that almost fresh flavor of basil.

somegeek

[applestar]

I just harvested WAY more basil than I can do anything with, even pesto, and remembered your post. Thanks! 1/2 the harvest has been turned into a "board" Um. only part I changed was to sandwich the olive oil coated leaves in parchment paper first since I don't like oily foods touching plastic.

[gixxerific]

Whoa very cool. I just got done harvesting another butt-load of basil. I have 3 huge harvest sitting around in different stages. Actually enjoying my cinnamon basil aroma while I type this, I need to go wash this soon. just washed a huge batch of regular basil not long ago.

This is something I should try. I have so much basil going it's crazy. I have been drying it for use as spices when cooking I will have plenty for pesto and other things like your idea.

I was actually going to post a new thread about my basil harvest as of late. I have thrown so much seed in the compost (and liberally around my garden, I can't wait for next year). That I should be selling this. I could quit my job, well not really but that would be sweet.

Nothing like the smell of basil around the house. Or embedded in your fingers for rest of the day.

[somegeek]

I just harvested WAY more basil than I can do anything with, even pesto, and remembered your post. Thanks! 1/2 the harvest has been turned into a "board" Um. only part I changed was to sandwich the olive oil coated leaves in parchment paper first since I don't like oily foods touching plastic.

Sweet! Glad this came in handy.

I just made a board from our first harvest this year a few days ago. We pretty much went through what we had from last year so this timing was good.

somegeek