Basil is one beautiful herb to incorporate into your kitchen!
Basil is known for its renewing, recovering, and strengthening properties. The word basil originates from the Greek word “king”. The new king of your kitchen can be this herb. Some herbs can be a little finicky to keep alive, but this one is pretty hard to kill. Minimal pruning every few days ensures it grows fast and lushly.
The heat from cooking basil will actually take away the flavor profile. Raw basil, like we used in this Hemp Seed Pesto recipe, has a slightly a peppery taste followed but a sweet aromatic taste. It pairs very well with chives, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme, lemon, and tomatoes. It is commonly found in Mediterranean and Italian dishes and sauces.
This pesto recipe tastes so fresh!! It’s hard to tell if its the basil from the garden or the freshly squeezed lemon juice? We’ll never know. The roasted garlic makes its very creamy without taking away from the garden freshness. This recipe will take all of five minutes to whip up. Add it to any meal, dish, or use it as a dipping sauce!
Basils Top Health Benefits Are:
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Regenerative
- Neurotonic
- Stimulative
- Aides in Digestion
Nutritional Benefits:
- It is rich in Vitamin K. Vitamin K is important for blood clotting.
- It is high in Vitamin A as well. Vitamin A contains beta-carotenes and powerful antioxidants.
- It possesses many DNA protecting flavonoids. Flavonoids benefit the immune system because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Organic Hempseed
- 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Organic Garlic Powder
- 1 head of Roasted Garlic
- 3-4 ounces of Fresh Organic Basil
- 1 heaping Tbsp. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 Organic Lemon Juiced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a Ninja
food processor or other immersion blender
- Adjust consistency to personal liking. Add additional Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
for a more dressing style pesto or additional basil leaves for a pesto-y paste
food processor or other immersion blender
References:
Opalchenova, G., & Obreshkova, D. (n.d.). Result Filters. Retrieved September 08, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12732427
Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with whole foods: Asian traditions and modern nutrition. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
The essential life: A simple guide to living the wellness lifestyle. (2015). Place of publication not identified: Total Wellness Publishing.
