Basil

Caprese Spaghetti
Greenhouse Classroom Ingredients:
- Purple or Green basil
- Tomatoes
Additional Ingredients:
- Spaghetti or pasta
- Olive oil
- Mozzarella balls (optional)
- Lemon
- Salt
Instructions:
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan on medium heat
- Chop tomatoes and add to heated pan – saute for ~2 minutes, turn off heat and set aside
- Follow instructions on spaghetti or pasta box to cook (boil water and cook for allotted time)
- Rip basil into smaller pieces and enjoy the aroma
- In a bowl, add pasta, chopped tomatoes, ripped basil, mozzarella balls
- Add lemon juice and salt to taste
Tomato & Purple Basil Salad
Greenhouse Classroom Ingredients:
- Tomatoes
- Purple basil
Additional Ingredients:
- Red onion
- Olive oil
- Lemon
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Cut tomatoes into pieces
- Chop onion
- Mix tomatoes and red onion and at some salt and pepper – allow this to sit for ~10-15 minutes for the onion to soften and tomatoes to release some juice
- Add ~1.5 tablespoons of of lemon juice
- Add ~1 tablespoons of olive oil
- Rip up purple basil and add as garnish
- Gently mix all ingredients and serve!
Inspired by: https://vidarbergum.com/recipe/tomato-salad-purple-basil/
Perfect Pesto
Greenhouse Classroom Ingredients:
- Basil
Additional Ingredients:
- 3 cloves garlic or minced garlic
- ½ cup oil (olive oil preferred), or more as needed
- ¾ cup walnuts
- Lemon zest (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions with food processor:
- Add 1–2 cloves of garlic to the food processor, pulse until finely chopped.
- Add 1–2 cups of basil—pulse again.
- Add nuts, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
- Pulse again until desired texture is achieved.
Instructions without food processor:
- Separate basil leaves from stem.
- Use a sharp knife to chop the basil and cut the walnuts into small pieces.
- Use a sharp knife to mince the garlic (or use minced garlic).
- Combine all remaining ingredients into a ziplock bag, press all the air out and seal the bag closed.
- Roll a mug or mason jar over the bag of ingredients to continue to press and mix the ingredients together.
- Empty the contents into a bowl and serve or store in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld until serving.
- Adjust seasonings as needed.
Nutrition facts:
- An ideal cooling agent for summer months, basil is extremely high in antioxidants. It has been used to support the immune system and aid in digestive health.
- Excellent source of vitamin K and manganese.
Crop | Vitamin K | Vitamin A (beta-carotene) | Vitamin B9 (Folate) | Vitamin C | Magnesium | Calcium | Phosphorous | Iron | Potassium |
Basil | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Location of origin:
- Central Africa and Southeast Asia
Share your own recipe!
Is there a recipe of your own that utilizes this crop? Please complete the following form to share your recipe, and we will add it to the website: Harvest Program Family Recipes. Thank you!