I was in my kitchen enjoying the aroma of the fresh basil plant that a friend had given me. I knew that I had to use it in tonight’s meal. I quickly imagined it with greens, and since I love simplicity, I decided on 2 standbys, olive oil and lemon juice. What a wonderful dressing it made. The basil flavor was distinctive, but not overpowering. I simply drizzled it on top of some fresh greens, red peppers and bleu cheese. Perfect!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
In a blender or food processor, mix together the basil leaves, garlic, salt and pepper. Add lemon juice, then slowly add the olive oil while blending.
As I have mentioned before, I love to make my own salad dressings. My favorites are ones made with oil and vinegar. This one uses walnut oil, which gives it a very unique flavor. Try it with any salad that is complemented by a nutty flavor.
As stated in an earlier post, I prefer homemade salad dressings over store bought dressings. Not only are they easy, but they are inexpensive, too. Here is one of my favorite recipes for a vinaigrette. It is not only good on a salad of fresh greens, but also on potato salad or a vegetable salad. 