Basil Bliss: Growing Basil Indoors Year-Round and The Best Pesto Recipe EVER
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How To Ensure Fresh Basil All-Year Round
At Happy Leaf, we firmly believe that the freshest batch of basil is the one that doesn’t break the bank and is always within arm’s reach, just steps away from your kitchen. Imagine the convenience of plucking fragrant basil leaves whenever your culinary creations demand it, without the hassle of running to the store or fretting over wilted herbs in your fridge. That’s the dream, right?
Well, we’re here to tell you that this dream can become a delightful reality. We want to inspire you to embrace the joy of growing basil indoors. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just dipping your toes into the world of greenery, cultivating basil in the comfort of your own home is an accessible and rewarding journey that promises a continuous supply of fresh, aromatic basil leaves for your culinary escapades.
In this blog post, we’ll share our tips, tricks, and insights on how to cultivate this beloved herb indoors, effortlessly and economically. Say goodbye to expensive store-bought basil and hello to a flourishing basil garden right in your kitchen or living space.
Get ready to embark on a flavorful adventure that will elevate your cooking and your connection with nature. Let’s dive into the exciting world of indoor basil cultivation together!
Basil: A Siren Call to Foodies
We always try to bring basil to trade shows and events because a basil plant is like a siren call to foodies and non-foodies alike. It’s almost as attractive as a puppy. People will pick up a basil plant we have growing in a jar, inhale, and then you can see their shoulders drop and their smile widen. Basil is that good.
You definitely need to stop buying basil, and you need to start growing basil indoors – we mean now! And never stop. Okay? Let’s go!
Quickly, you need to brush up on the SIMPLEST WAY for growing basil indoors, just about anywhere, anytime. We promise, it’s so easy that even the least “planty” people can do this. Here’s the short form – Hydroponics in 1 minute and here’s the long-form Easy indoor Hydroponic Garden | The Kratky Method
Once you have your basil plants rocking, there are soooo many basil dishes and uses for basil (it’s kind of like duct tape in that regard!). Some may ask, “Now that I have all this basil, what can I use basil for?” We’re here to get you started. We are offering our recipe for THE BEST BATCH OF PESTO, EVER!
The Best Pesto Recipe EVER!
The best pesto recipe EVER is possible because there are over 150 different species of basil you could be growing indoors yourself with a Happy Leaf grow light (our secret weapon) and each one offers a new twist for your pesto recipes.
A few of our favorites types of basil:
Without further ado, our best pesto recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 cups basil, packed
- Parsley
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Basil (A handful? How many are you feeding? 2 packed cups is generally good for a pound of pasta or to spread on a large pizza)
Maybe you can throw in a handful of parsley?
Garlic (3 cloves? 4 cloves? 8 cloves? How much do you like garlic?!)
Pine nuts or walnuts, BLACK walnuts!? (1/4 cup more or less)
Olive oil (start with 1/4 cup)
Parmesan cheese (start with 1/4 cup)
Throw the basil, parsley(?) garlic, nuts and olive oil into a food processor and pulse until you have a rough paste.
Transfer the paste to a bowl and stir in the cheese.
Directions
Step 1: Gather ingredients
Step 2 : Combine the basil, parsley, garlic, nuts and olive oil into a food processor or mortar and pestle and pulse or muddle until you have a rough paste.
Step 3: Transfer the paste to a bowl and stir in the cheese.
EASY, right?
Keep in mind, the type of basil you choose can affect some of the other ingredients you add. With so many basil varieties to choose from, this is a dish that offers unlimited potential. Cinnamon basil with black walnuts? Lemon basil with pecans?
The type and amount of garlic used will affect the pesto.
Pine nuts are the go-to nut for pesto, but, as suggested, this is a place wide open for your exploration.
Likewise, Parmesan cheese is the standard, but there is a whole world of hard white cheese such as Romano, Asiago, and Grana Padano to name a few that can go well here.
Also, if you decide to add a little parsley to this recipe as suggested, you can easily grow this in your indoor garden!
So, what will you use your pesto for?
We hope we inspired you to grow basil indoors and make a million varieties of pesto.
Oh, and you know we’ll be back with more ideas as to what to do with all of that basil. Keep an eye on this space! And keep growing your basil indoors!
If you made it to the end of this blog post, then we really thank you for taking the time to take in our ramblings. Stay tuned for further installments of Happy Leaf Foodies blog posts that will include more recipes and also some of these non-recipe recipes – let’s see where this road goes together!
Other Fresh Basil Recipes
- Caprese salad: This classic Italian salad is made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It’s the perfect light summer meal.
- Grilled chicken or fish: Basil adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor to grilled chicken or fish. Try adding it to a marinade or brushing it on the cooked meat or fish.
- Soups and stews: Basil can be added to soups and stews to add flavor and depth. It’s especially good in tomato-based soups and stews.
- Salads: Basil is a great addition to salads, both as a garnish and as a chopped ingredient. It pairs well with tomatoes, cucumbers, and other summer vegetables.
- Sandwiches and wraps: Basil can be added to sandwiches and wraps for a fresh, flavorful twist. Try adding it to a grilled cheese sandwich, a BLT, or a wrap with hummus and vegetables.
- Stir-fries: Basil is a great addition to stir-fries. It adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor to the dish.
- Dips & spreads: Pesto is a great spread! Slather a little on a fresh cut piece of bread, toast it under the broiler for a couple of minutes (keep an eye on it!), top it with a slice of fresh tomato and maybe a little mozzarella.
- Desserts: Basil can even be used in desserts! Try adding it to a fruit salad, ice cream, or sorbet for a unique and refreshing flavor.
Still on the fence about starting your indoor gardening adventure? Get inspired by our YouTube channel
or browse our blog posts for answers to your technical grow light & indoor gardening questions like ‘Grow Lights – How Much Should I Pay?‘ or what are some unique varieties I can grow?
Happy Leaf LED is a proud member of The National Garden Bureau.
