This basil oil drizzle is a loverly herbaceous oil that adds a burst of flavor to a variety of dishes. It’s a vibrant and aromatic infusion that captures the essence of fresh basil leaves. Drizzle it over soups, salads, pasta, or grilled vegetables to impart a refreshing and aromatic twist. It’s also a delicious finishing touch for fish and chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s quick and easy to make – everything goes in the blender and whizzes until combined.
- It adds a vibrant and aromatic touch to your favorite dishes.
Serving Suggestions
You can use this basil oil drizzle for numerous dishes. Here are some that I recommend;
- Drizzle over grilled or roasted vegetables.
- Drizzle it over caprese salads or fresh tomatoes.
- Add some to pasta dishes.
- Serve with fresh or grilled bread.
- Serve it as a sauce with chicken or fish
- Drizzle over soups – It’s delicious with my easy homemade tomato soup for which you can get the recipe here.
What Ingredients Do I Need
This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients.
- Fresh basil – I like to use the Italian Genovese basil for this as it has a more robust flavor than some other basils. It also has a mild peppery taste that works well for this.
- Fresh garlic
- Extra virgin olive oil – You want a milder olive oil so that the basil flavors stand out. Keep your bolder, peppery oils for other dishes.
- Salt – To taste.
How To Make This Basil Oil Drizzle
- Wash basil – Be sure to dry well.
- Prepare garlic – Peel and cut the garlic in half.
- Blend – Add all ingredients except salt to the blender and blend until smooth.
- Season – Add salt to taste.
Recipe Tips And Tricks For Success
- Use a milder olive oil so the pungency doesn’t overwhelm the basil flavor.
- Make sure to blend the mixture long enough that the garlic gets broken down and its full flavors are released.
- Don’t forget to salt the oil to your taste. It will be quite bland without adding salt.
Recipe Variations
For a bit of a kick try adding a few chili flakes to this oil. You could also swap out the basil for fresh parsley.
Storage Tips
As it contains fresh garlic, this oil should be kept, covered in the refrigerator and only for a maximum of 7 days. According to the US Department of Agriculture, “mixtures of garlic in oil stored at room temperature are at risk for the development of botulism. Garlic in oil should be made fresh and stored in the refrigerator at 40 °F or lower for no more than 7 days. It may be frozen for several months.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS; What happens to basil when you put it in oil? Over time the basil may darken but it will still be edible. Just keep in mind the warning above for oils that contain garlic & store it in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days. When should you not eat basil? Basil is best eaten or use in recipes when it's still fresh and the leaves are a vibrant green. Don't use it if the leaves have wilted or discolored. Can you freeze basil? Yes! Freezing is a great way to preserve basil. Just chop it up, add it to an icecube tray and cover with olive oil. Freeze overnight and transfer the frozen basil cubes to a ziplog bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Remove 1 cube at a time as needed.
Basil Oil Drizzle
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 28 g ( 1 cup, packed) fresh basil leaves
- 118ml (1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
- salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Wash & dry basil thoroughly.
- Peel & chop garlic clove into 2-3 pieces.
- Add basil, garlic & olive oil to the blender and combine well. Start on low speed & increase to high gradually.
- Add salt to taste & blend again breifly to incorporate the salt.
Notes
Leave A Comment & Rate This Recipe
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And if you’re looking for more easy and quick sauce recipes check out my Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce and my Authentic Greek Tzatziki Sauce.
This quick & easy herb oil is my go-to for drizzling on soups, pasta, pizza & Caprese salads!
Totally trying this! It looks easy to make and sounds delicious 🙂
this sounds perfect to use to add finishing touches to so many dishes..
This sounds so good. I will have to make some. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
I think this is the one that they always serve with bread at the restaurant. Yum! Thanks for the recipe!
If I can store it only for up to 7 days, then I will make this in small batches so I can finish it within 2-3 days. This oil looks really good ??.
It would be difficult to make in a smaller amount as there wouldn’t be enough liquid for the blender to operate properly. I would recommend making the amount in the recipe & freezing it in smaller portions so you can take out what you need.
I’ve always loved the fresh and aromatic flavor of basil, and turning it into a drizzle is such a brilliant idea. The simplicity of the recipe is perfect for someone like me who enjoys enhancing dishes with minimal effort!
I love the sound of this basil drizzle. It’s perfect for dipping bread into and for my salads. It sounds super tasty and easy to make which is great.
I’m all for this recipe, my daughters make this, and it taste so good on the salads she makes. Now, I would like to try it on a bake potatoes and a few other side dishes.
Oh yes this would be delicious on baked potatoes too! Good idea!
Looks so delicious, I’ve never had it before but sounds lovely on pizza or in soup
I’ve never thought of adding basil to my olive oil when putting on my favorite dishes like baked potatoes. I’ll have to give this a try soon.
Sounds delicious! I love olive oil and basil. Your pinch bowl is so cute for the salt. It would be neat to try this on a variety of foods.
This looks wonderful and is perfect for drizzling over soups.