Are you sick of eating pesto and caprese salad? Yeah, me neither. But are you looking for something else to do with all that fresh basil? Yeah, me too. Let’s make basil salt!
Wait, that’s not going to turn me into a flesh-eating zombie is it? No, that’s bath salts. Don’t eat bath salts. Because if you do that and turn into a zombie, we’ll have to come get you with our leftover margarita popsicle sticks.
But do make and eat basil salt. This would be great made with some fancy shmancy sea salt. And then you can call it a “Gourmet Sea Salt” and use it as a fancy shmancy finishing salt on a fancy shmancy dish you’ve prepared. Or sneak it into food because whenever you tell your significant other that you’re making something “fancy”, he just hears “weird”.
I also think this would make the cutest gift for people like me (and you) who like things like basil salt. My family is big into homemade gifts at Christmas time. My sister makes the best face moisturizer ever. I make her things like a cross-stitched ornament with her name, except I don’t plan very well, so the top line says:
MOLL
And the bottom line says:
Y
Because I ran out of room and couldn’t fit her whole name. I could have started over or at least removed the last L and replaced it with an S, because that’s what we call her sometimes, but I was doing this last minute and simply didn’t have time, and I already came this far, so I gave it to her anyway. Merry Christmas, Sissy! Here’s an ornament that kind of says your name. Granted, this was 20-something years ago, but it still makes us laugh. It was also very foretelling of my character. Either way, you can’t go wrong with homemade gifts.
But why are we talking about Christmas?! Who gave you the keyboard anyway? Let’s get back to summer.
What else is there an abundance of right now? Corn! Basil salt is really good on 
with a little chili powder. The ‘Tesuque’ chili peppers are ripe, but they aren’t dry yet, so no garden chili powder yet, but OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS: I just had the best idea for a Christmas present. Homemade basil salt and homemade chili powder. Red and green. Christmas theme.Have you been eating bath salts?
No, but I could see how you would think that. I’ve come too far. There’s no turning back. Just go make this. <Hits Publish>
Basil Salt
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup packed basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225.
- Pulse salt and basil leaves in a food processor. Spread on baking sheet. Bake for 35–40 minutes, tossing half-way through.
Molly Schlegel says
09.08.16 atI just died….literally crying while my children ask me, “what’s wrong?” Best Christmas present ever! Even if it just sort of said my name…
Marguerite says
09.08.16 atAnd now I’m laughing out loud too! I love you 🙂