7 Reasons to Use More Basil in Your Meals

It’s never too late to add more flavor to your dishes. And if we’re talking flavor, it’s time you use more basil whenever you cook. There are plenty of reasons to do that and we’re gonna cover them right now.

Why should you use more basil? Not only because it adds more flavor to anything, but also because it is healthy and loaded with nutrients. Basil hits a one-two punch on what we’re looking for when it comes to the food we make. You can also use it to decorate things tastefully if you learn how to chiffonade!

Before we get down to the reasons to use more basil in your cooking, here are some great tips on how you can pick it and keep it fresh. And the best tip there is when it comes to basil is: the less it cooks, the better it is.

7 reasons to use more basil

1. It’s full of healthy nutrients

It can help boost the antioxidants in your meals. It’s loaded with beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. They help to fight off oxidative stress in your body. And they also may protect against chronic disease.

2. It can make for stunning lemonade

Summer is definitely the season of the lemonade and there are many ideas out there to help you spice it up. Adding basil to your lemonade is a surefire way to do that.

3. Make some pesto noise!

Need something fresh for a heatwave sort of day? Pesto is the way to go! Use fresh basil leaves along with crushed garlic, pine nuts, coarse salt, hard cheese, and olive oil! You can make large batches and then freeze them. It will still keep a lot of flavor.

4. Add it to ice cream

In the past three years, I’ve had basil ice cream in Athens, Prague, and Bucharest and I am so in love with the combo that I want to try it anywhere. Take out your ice cream machine and swirl some basil in there.

5. It’s an amazing ingredient for pasta

As Italians will tell you, you don’t need too many topping ingredients for a great pasta dish. Just try it once with some olive oil and your mind might just be blown!

6. Make compound butter

If you need a how-to guide on compound butter, you will surely find one if you follow this link. Make some compound butter with basil and add it over steaks and other meat dishes.