Basil Puree Recipes

CUCUMBER-BASIL PUREE

Steps:

• Combine water, cucumber, basil, and salt in a blender and freeze in an ice-cube tray.

POTATO BASIL PUREE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and fill a bowl with ice water. Add the basil leaves to the boiling water and cook for exactly 15 seconds. Remove the basil with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge the leaves into the ice water to set the bright green color. Drain and set aside.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Add the potatoes to the same pot of boiling water and return to a boil. Cook the potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain well, return to the saucepan, and steam over low heat until any remaining water evaporates.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half and Parmesan cheese until the cream simmers. Place the basil in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree. Add the hot cream mixture and process until smooth.
• With a handheld mixer with the beater attachment, beat the hot potatoes in the pot until they are broken up. Slowly add the hot basil cream, the salt, and pepper and beat until smooth. If the potatoes need to be reheated, cover and cook gently over low heat for a few minutes. Pour into a serving bowl, sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, season to taste, and serve hot.

CONVENT GARDEN ROASTED TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL PUREE

Steps:

• preheat grill to hot hot hot. cut the tomatos in half and place cut side up on a baking sheet gril until soft and beginning to darken at edges. this took me 30min approximately when softa little dark take out and preheat oven to gas mark 5.
• heat the olive oil with the garlic and herbs in a large saucepan. when hot add teh other veggies. cook over a moderate heat for a few minutes stirring now and then until the veg begins to soften. transfer these veggies onto a raosting tin and roast in oven til soft. it took me about 40min approximatley.
• remove from oven and puree in liquidiser with tomatoes, lemon juice, tomato puree and sugar add water if you need to to make a smooth pouring consistency.
• to make the baisl puree pound the basil leaves in a pestle and mortar with salt until smooth add the olive oil and vinegar and stir well. dollop a heaped teaspoon of the pureee on the soup and eat with bread and stuff yummy!

POTATO BASIL PURéE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and fill a bowl with ice water. Add the basil leaves to the boiling water and cook for exactly 15 seconds. Remove the basil with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge the leaves into the ice water to set the bright green color. Drain and set aside.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Add the potatoes to the same pot of boiling water and return to a boil. Cook the potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain well, return to the sauce- pan, and steam over low heat until any remaining water evaporates.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half and Parmesan cheese until the cream simmers. Place the basil in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and purée. Add the hot cream mixture and process until smooth.
• With a handheld mixer with the beater attachment, beat the hot potatoes in the pot until they are broken up. Slowly add the hot basil cream, the salt, and pepper and beat until smooth. If the potatoes need to be reheated, cover and cook gently over low heat for a few minutes. Pour into a serving bowl, sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, season to taste, and serve hot.