Basil Coulis Recipes

TOMATO COULIS WITH BASIL (STEWED TOMATOES WITH BASIL)

Steps:

• Drop tomatoes into boiling water for 12 seconds to loosen skin. Peel tomatoes with a paring knife, cut them in half and squeeze to extract seeds. Chop tomatoes coarsely. There should be about 2 cups.
• Heat the butter in a small saucepan. Add shallots, cook briefly and add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Add the basil and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Serve immediately with the fish.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH CORN COULIS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook shallot and garlic in 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 1 minute. Add corn, basil, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until corn is tender and beginning to lightly brown on edges, about 4 minutes. Add milk and scrape up any brown bits from bottom of skillet, then remove from heat.
• Purée corn mixture in a blender at medium speed until very smooth, about 1 minute. Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Cover coulis until ready to serve.
• Toss tomatoes with parsley and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
• Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a 12-inch nonstick heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of scallops, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer to a platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Sauté remaining scallops in same manner.
• Reheat coulis over low heat, covered, then spoon 2 tablespoons onto center of each of 6 plates. Arrange 5 scallops per plate in a circle on coulis, then spoon tomatoes into center.

CORN AND BASIL EGG ROULADE WITH YELLOW TOMATO COULIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter a 15 1/2- by 11- by 1-inch jelly-roll pan and line bottom and sides with parchment paper. Evenly butter parchment paper.
• Chop enough scallions to measure 3/4 cup. Chop basil. In a large bowl whisk together eggs, heavy cream, and salt until combined well. Pour custard into jelly-roll pan and bake in middle of oven 8 minutes. Rotate jelly-roll pan and continue to bake custard until set, 8 to 10 minutes more.
• While custard is baking, in a heavy skillet heat butter over moderately low heat and cook scallions, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Cut cream cheese into small pieces and add to scallions with corn and salt and pepper to taste. Cook mixture, stirring, until corn is heated through and cream cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread corn mixture evenly on top of hot egg sheet, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle basil over corn mixture. With a long side facing you and using parchment as an aid, roll up egg sheet jelly-roll fashion and carefully transfer to a platter.
• Carefully cut roulade into 16 slices (each about 3/4 inch thick) and serve warm or at room temperature with yellow tomato coulis and Black Forest ham slices.

BASIL COULIS

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Process in short pulses until smooth. Taste and add a little more sugar if desired, but the coulis shouldn't be too sweet. Pour into an airtight container and chill for up to a day, or freeze.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOMATO BASIL COULIS

Steps:

• In a skillet, saute the shallots and garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for about two minutes or so.
• Quarter 3 of the tomatoes and add to the saute pan along with the juice, parsley and basil.
• Season to taste and cook for about five minutes or until heated through.
• Whirl in food processor or blender.
• Pour wine into saute pan and stir over medium heat to deglaze.
• Add this liquid to the blender and whirl.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil slowly and process for two minutes.
• In a large saute pan, saute the asparagus in butter until tender crisp.
• To serve, cover the bottom of four salad plates with pureed mixture; arrange five asparagus in a fan shape over the top.
• Mince the remaining tomatoes and arrange equal portions at the base of the asparagus.
• Garnish as desired with chives, scallions and basil leaves.