This gorgeous specimen is the newest addition to my kitchen. I love basil. Italian basil, thai basil, purple basil; any kind of basil adds such flavor and freshness to a dish. I usually enjoy making Tomato and Mozzarella Toasts or chopping up some fresh basil and adding it to some rice cooked-with-chicken-stockand parmesan cheese. Many people believe that the use of basil is strictly an Italian invention, but au contraire! It is an incredibly versatile plant, and I’ve been known to add it not only to curry but to burritos as well. Once, I even stumbled upon a dessert recipe for basil: Basil-Blackberry Compote. I can’t wait to try that one.
Tomorrow, after a quick trip to pick up some dough, I’ll be making Fresh Tomato Pesto Pizza. I figure it’s the perfect end-of-the-day, eat-on-the-back-porch type of meal to have on a Wednesday. Mmmmm.
Fresh Tomato Pesto Pizza
| 4 cups Basil leaves |
| 2 Garlic cloves |
| 1/4 cup Chicken Broth fat-free, less-sodium |
| 1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese grated |
| 1 tablespoon Olive Oil |
| 1 Italian Pizza Crust |
| 3 cups Tomatoes , chopped seeded |
| 3 Garlic , thinly sliced cloves |
| 1 cup Provolone Cheese shredded |
| 1/4 cup Basil thinly sliced leaves
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. 2. To prepare pesto, place basil leaves and garlic cloves in a food processor, and pulse 5 times or until coarsely chopped. 3. With processor on, add broth, Parmesan, and oil through food chute; process until well-blended. 4. To prepare pizza, place pizza crust on a baking sheet. 5. Spread pesto over crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border; top with the tomato, garlic slices, and provolone. 6. Bake at 475 degrees for 12 minutes or until the cheese melts. 7. Sprinkle with sliced basil. 8. Cut the pizza into wedges. |
happy cooking!
June 30th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Delicious! I have basil in my vegetable garden. It grows very quickly (if it grows too much, it will also bloom), so be sure to pick it regularly. Best of luck in your cooking endeavors!
July 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
[...] on time), pal Becca from the tasty Key Notes with Becca was talking up her newly planted basil in a post, and thinking about all the dishes she might make with it, and generally giving a big “yay!” at [...]
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Tulsi (Holy Basil) is the most worshipped plant in Hindu culture. Tulsi (basil)is worshipped because of its great healing property has been indicated in variety of diseases.