lemon basil pesto!!😲

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

Have you heard of it?? I had no idea there was lemon basil. So I bought couple bunches and made more pesto---it does taste lemony too. The leaves are small and pointed--should have bought a few more bunches----but I didn't know, so I added my regular, already made pesto to it and it was/ is really good. Now I have lemon thyme in my tiny herb garden--I use that in with my ginger for ice tea--so good. Also found jalapeno/corn sour dough bread and then bought my usual foccacia round. Also scored beautiful cherokee purple toms too. Went to my local farmers markets before it got hot, yesterday morning.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

Good find! Now that you like it could you add it to your herb garden?

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

Mmm...everything sounds yummy from your farmer's market. One of my many favorite things about summer season, are our local farmer's markets...I'm always so sad to see them go away in October (I'm in CT.) It's where I buy all my produce and some jarred goods, all summer.

Funny you mention lemon basil...it was new to me this year...and I have it in a pot outside! When I went to buy my usual Italian basil plant this spring, I was late to my garden center (the herbs go as soon as they start coming in) ...so I bought one of the few Italian basil plants that looked good enough that were left, and decided to also try the lemon basil plant, which they had plenty of. It's grown beautifully, and I plan on adding it to the pesto I look forward to making soon. I need to buy pinole nuts. Last year I used walnuts in the sauce, which are fine and tasty too...and pinole nuts are so expensive...but I think this year I'd like to splurge and use the traditional nut in the pesto. 🪴

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@amyb --I usually don't have any luck growing basil--I used to buy it at my local Trader Joes for $3.99 for a good sized bush--and it grew but never grew really bushy and robust--if you know what I mean----by the end of August it was ready to be picked and that would be that, until next year--called it my yearly donation to the basil gods. This year my small grocery store basil is doing really well--have harvested enough leaves for a couple batches of pesto--I add a bit of spinach to it just to lessen the strong basil flavor and use less to make more. I use pine nuts, walnuts and even almonds. I find pine nuts are better priced at TJ's--this lemon pesto batched I did use roasted walnuts---will be putting my already made pesto into ice cube trays to freeze for the coming months.

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

Oh, I miss having an herb garden. Have never heard of this but sounds like it worked out well.

My neighbor gave me a lemon mint plant from her garden earlier this year but our soil is hard packed clay so I couldn't even dig a hole to plant it and it died.

I put the basil stem she gave me in a water-filled prescription bottle on a window sill and it's growing roots. I thought it smelled wonderful but my BF said it smells like cat pee. LOL

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@cindyNC --Men!!!!! that comment is the last thing I could ever think of---🙄

Dazlin · ‎03-14-2010

I just made another batch of pesto...I've been using Spinach and Arugula, some basil, fresh parsley.

I put a generous amount of roasted sunflower seeds in too. You can use just about any kind of nuts.

I squeeze some fresh lemon in, and I add chicken broth...that helps cut the oil down, so I dont have to use so much. Of course garlic goes in and some grated parmesian/Romano cheese.

Today I grilled marinated salmon and topped it with the pesto...so delicious.

I never had the lemon basil...that much be great in the pesto!

I'm growing an Italian basil plant...I always have fresh basil plants. For some reason, the past couple of years, they don't do well....they take off great, big, bushy, and bright green...then all of a sudden they start turning yellow/brown. We tried everything...and for no rhyme or reason, they die off.

Last one, hubby moved to a part shade area...and in the ground...its doing better, but not great.

So I bought another one, and it's planted in a big pot...will keep an eye.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@Dazlin ---I do like the idea of adding chicken broth or maybe even onion or garlic broth---I use Better Than Bouillion and those are my fave flavors and I like the sunflower seeds too. Great ideas.😉 I also read a recipe for broccoli pesto --that might be a good add-in too in small amounts. I do love basil but it can get too intense all by itself. I also have a wonderful bread machine recipe for pesto bread---I may do that soon. The salmon is the next thing I do with pesto--will have that tonight!!

tiny 2 · ‎03-10-2010

@wagirl,

@wagirl wrote:
@Dazlin ---I do like the idea of adding chicken broth or maybe even onion or garlic broth---I use Better Than Bouillion and those are my fave flavors and I like the sunflower seeds too. Great ideas.😉 I also read a recipe for broccoli pesto --that might be a good add-in too in small amounts. I do love basil but it can get too intense all by itself. I also have a wonderful bread machine recipe for pesto bread---I may do that soon. The salmon is the next thing I do with pesto--will have that tonight!!

@wagirl

Would you share the bread machine pesto bread recipe when you get a chance. no rush.