Oooh this Summer has been a busy one, and now we are already in to Fall.  Good thing we preserved some of Summer’s gorgeous basil.  So what to do with all that lovely Basil Paste we just made a few weeks back? I’ve got a little something up my sleeve that puts an answer to that very question.  This time we are going for a bit of an unconventional twist on the classic Gremolata. 

Usually a classic Gremolata is a dry or sometimes wet combination of chopped parsley with citrus, garlic and salt.  Ours will be a little different thanks to the basil and a little wet thanks to the Olive Oil our Basil Paste base, but that’s okay because the flavor is sensational either way.  You certainly could use fresh Basil if you have some handy.  So what we will be creating here is Emerald Summer Sunshine on a spoon, my friends.

Basil Gremolata

• 2 Tablespoons Basil Paste or 1/2 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves, finely chopped
• 1 Teaspoon Garlic, finely minced
• Zest of 1/2 Lemon
• Twist or two of Fresh Cracked Pepper
• Pinch of Sea Salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together thoroughly.

It just doesn’t get any easier than this.  This is amazing on fish, chicken, tofu, toasted baguettes, mixed into a vinaigrette or any other creative way you want to put it to use.

Summer has wound down and you are probably like me, clambering to get your hands on those last fresh bits of basil from your garden and Farmer’s Markets. There is nothing more refreshing than Basil’s crisp herbaceous flavor tinged with a hint of pepper and licorice.

So how do we hold on to the flavor of this Summer gem without going the same ole Pesto route? I’m about to show ya…

Don’t get me wrong now, Basil Pesto is one of my favorite condiments. But there is sooo much more you can do with Basil.   I’m going to give you a super simple recipe to preserve your basil and turn it into a base ingredient for many other Basilicious condiments and recipes. And yep… I’ll be throwing a Pesto recipe at ya in the very near future.

Basil Paste

• 3 Cups Basil Leaves, washed and well packed
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
• Pinch of Sea Salt

Stuff this all into a food processor equipped with chopping blades and pulse until the Basil is blended to about the size of a peppercorn. You may have to scrape the sides of your processor, the consistency should be a similar to a tomato paste.

Refrigerator Storage: Pour the Base Paste Base into an air-tight container, spread evenly and cover with a thin layer of olive oil. You can store it for 3-4 days in the fridge this way.
Freezer Storage: Prep ice cube trays by either rubbing or spraying the insides with Olive Oil. Place roughly 1 Tablespoon in each compartment, cover each with a thin layer of Olive Oil, cover and freeze. Once they are set after a couple hours, pop them out of the trays and place them in a zipper top freezer bag. These will keep beautifully in the freezer for 6+ months.