Tasty Basil Everleaf Lemon Recipes
This award-winning basil from PanAmerican Seed® is the perfect ingredient to brighten up any dish.
Basil Everleaf Lemon, the award-winning basil from PanAmerican Seed®, is the perfect ingredient to brighten up any dish. From dressings to marinades, as well as fresh salads, its outstanding lemon flavor will shine through. And since harvesting Everleaf Lemon can extend your season-long enjoyment up to 8 weeks later than standard basil, the cooking opportunities are endless!
Try some of these delicious recipes featuring this new basil with the amazing lemon flavor.
‘Everleaf Lemon’ Basil Goddess Dressing
Makes approximately 1 cup
INGREDIENTS
1 cup plain Greek yogurt* (see notes)
1 cup packed fresh herbs: ‘Everleaf Lemon’ basil, dill, parsley , mint, arugula
3 Tbsp green onion or chives, finely chopped
1 medium clove garlic, rough chop
3 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp anchovy paste or 2-4 anchovy fillets chopped (optional)
Pinch of cayenne or other hot pepper (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION
1. Roughly chop fresh herbs.
2. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, there will be green flecks remaining in sauce.
3. Taste sauce and add salt, pepper and hot pepper according to taste.
4. Use immediately for dressing, dipping, marinating or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
*Notes: To make a creamier sauce, perfect for a dip or use to make egg or tuna salad: substitute 1 cup mayonnaise for yogurt To make a thinner sauce, perfect for salad dressing, substitute ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup buttermilk for yogurt. To make a sauce with more fat, perfect for marinade substitute ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup canola oil for yogurt.
Basil Lime Sorbet
INGREDIENTS
½-cup water
½-cup sugar
½-cup lime juice (4 limes)
3 Tbsp lightly packed lime zest (4 limes)
½-cup packed Everleaf Lemon basil - finely chopped
PREPARATION
1. Add water and sugar to saucepan, bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to a simmer, add zest and continue simmering for 4 minutes.
3. Finely chop basil.
4. Turn off heat and add basil and lime juice to hot syrup. Remove from stove and allow to cool completely.
5. Pour syrup over sieve* or strainer into a freezer-proof container, removing the largest pieces of basil and zest. *If you prefer a stronger basil and lime flavor, skip the strainer and poor cooled syrup directly into freezer proof container.
6. Place syrup in freezer, remove and stir/scrape with a fork to fluff the sorbet about every 30-60 minutes. Depending on volume of container expect about 2-4 hours to completely freeze.
Serving ideas
Fresh dessert
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Place fresh fruit in bottom of small bowl (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc.)
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When ready to serve, bring sorbet out of freezer, scrape with a fork to full and spoon 2-3 Tbsp over fruit
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Optional – add a few spoonfuls of fresh whipped cream on fruit for a creamy finish
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Serve with a few basil leaves for garnish
Cool cocktail
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Bring sorbet out of freezer, scrape with a fork to full and spoon 2-3 Tbsp into bottom of a small glass – martini or margarita glass is perfect! **
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Pour in 1-2 oz. of your favorite liquor – vodka, tequila, cassis, framboise
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Stir gently and garnish with a few basil leaves
Fizzy cocktail
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Bring sorbet out of freezer, scrape with a fork to full and spoon
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2-3 Tbsp into bottom of a small glass – 6 oz. lowball glass or similar **
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Pour in 1-1.5 oz. of your favorite liquor – vodka, tequila
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Carefully pour in 2-3 oz. of club soda or soda water
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Stir gently and garnish with a few basil leaves
**Cocktail note – skip the freezer and dive right into making a cocktail! Follow recipe ideas above with cooled syrup rather than frozen sorbet. Add a few ice cubes to cool completely.
Pineapple Lemon Basil Juice
Makes enough to serve in a pitcher
INGREDIENTS
4 Tbsp lime juice
Handful of Everleaf Lemon basil (about 20 leaves); reserve some for garnish if you would like
32 oz. pineapple juice Ice (amount ranges based on pitcher size); if using a smaller pitcher, you can also add the ice to the serving glasses instead of the pitcher
PREPARATION
1. Add lime juice and basil leaves to pitcher
2. Crush the basil leaves using a muddler or a similar tool (wooden spoon, pestle, end of a rolling pin)
3. Add preferred amount of ice
4. Add pineapple juice and stir
5. Garnish with basil leaves and serve