Basil Beckoning

Fresh basil is as fragrant s many flowers, perfuming the air with its slightly sweet, bright and refreshing scent. Just a little can transport your taste buds straight to the Mediterranean and delivers a big punch of intense flavor with no added calories or salt.

Here are two easy ways to add this aromatic herb to your menu.

Fresh Basil Pesto
Fresh pesto comes together quickly; it takes about five minutes and a food processor. The ingredient list is short too. It’s also really versatile. Whip up a batch and use it as a sauce for pasta, as a delectable dip for sliced veggies or drizzle it over grilled chicken.

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 3 medium sized garlic cloves, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Put the basil and nuts in your food processor and pulse a few times. Then add the garlic and cheese, and pulse a few times more to get a fine chop on all ingredients. Then, with the processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Scrape down the sides and pulse a few more times to get everything mixed well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Mix It Up
You can tweak the basic pesto recipe to match your mood. Swap walnuts for pine nuts. Or use cilantro instead of basil (great for grilled fish!). You can add lemon or lime juice (or both) to any variation. Same thing goes for red pepper flakes; toss in a pinch and spice things up.

Basil-Lemon Marinade
This simple, savory marinade imparts fresh, zippy flavor.

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

Mix together all ingredients and combine with fish, chicken breasts or veggies for several hours before grilling.

Grow Your Own
You can grow basil outside, but to enjoy it year round, plant it in a pot indoors. Place a cutting in a cup of water, and when tiny roots start to show, move it to your container filled with soil. It needs plenty of light, so put it in a sunny spot. And if you see any yellowing on the leaves, you could be overwatering.