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8 results for “Basil”

Ingredients

PastaTomatoOlive OilBasil

Ingredient tips

Pasta

Grain

Cook in well-salted water and finish in the sauce — never rinse.

  • Salt the water until it tastes like the sea.
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water to loosen any sauce.
  • Pull pasta 1 min early and finish it in the pan.

Tomato

Vegetable

Sweet, acidic fruit (yes, fruit) that anchors sauces, salads, and stews.

  • Never refrigerate — it kills the flavor and texture.
  • Score an X and blanch 30 sec for slip-off skins.
  • Roast halved tomatoes with olive oil to deepen sweetness.

Olive Oil

Pantry

Extra-virgin for finishing and dressing; regular for high-heat cooking.

  • Store away from light and heat to preserve flavor.
  • Don't smoke EVOO — it goes bitter past ~375°F.
  • Drizzle on at the end of cooking for full aroma.

Basil

Herb

Sweet, summery herb that bruises easily — tear, don't chop.

  • Add at the end of cooking to preserve the aroma.
  • Store at room temp in water like cut flowers.
  • Stack and roll leaves to chiffonade them.