I just have a minute this morning. I’m running out the door and on my way to Northern Thailand for work for a couple days. Before I go though I wanted to share this dressing that I am declaring the official salad dressing of summer in the Inquiring Chef household. Sweet Basil Vinaigrette will be making repeat appearances.
We signed back up for our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which means that every Tuesday we’re getting a box chock full of fresh produce. I’m glad to be getting it again since those boxes of unexpected ingredients force us to try new things and get creative. Especially with salads. This week when I opened the box, I could smell the basil right away. Tucked inside was a bunch of Italian basil as big as my head.
We can get excellent basil here, but it’s most often Thai sweet basil. Thai sweet basil tastes a bit more tart and citrusy than the Italian variety. I wanted to make those sweet Italian basil leaves last and last. So I put them in a vinaigrette, and drizzled it over everything we ate all weekend long. I’m going to share my favorite way we used it when I get back later this week (a hint though – it involves another bottle of kalamata olives that made it home intact this time).
In the meantime, if you can get your hands on a bunch of Italian sweet basil this is a great way to use it. Sweet and fresh tasting, it imparts just the right amount of summery basil to anything it touches. Have a good week friends! See you in a few days.
- 20 leaves fresh basil
- ½ small shallot, chopped
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- Juice from ½ lemon
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Combine all of the ingredients except for the olive oil in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. With the food processor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream and blend until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to three days.
Yep, I’d use this on all of my salads. And on my favorite chicken pasta salad with strawberries. It would be divine!
sally @ sallys baking addiction recently posted..Soft & Thick Snickerdoodles. (in 20 minutes!)
Yum, Sally! Chicken pasta salad with strawberries – that sounds incredible!
Jess recently posted..Sweet Basil Vinaigrette
That just screams summer! Yummers!
I love love love basil. I’m posting a little trick to grow it next week Jess so you can keep it on hand if you get another delivery of it in your box.
The oozy photo at the end makes me want to lick the screen!
Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..Shucked Newstead
Hooray, Claire! You have all the best gardening/growing things tricks. Looking forward to it.
I would pour this over just about everything I could!
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Muffins
How pretty is this! You always have the most gorgeous photos (and delish recipes, natch)
Feast on the Cheap recently posted..Pretzel Blondies with Salted Caramel
I have way to many store bought salad dressings, I need a fresh one
Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion recently posted..MeatBall Sandwich
Love this! I’m always on the hunt for new salad dressings and can’t wait to try this one!
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste recently posted..Summer Food Blogging Class in NYC
I love the idea of basil dressing! Must be tasty with pasta salads too –yum!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted..Curry Spam Fried Rice
Great idea to serve basil with some sweetness added to it! I will keep that in mind – thanks for the inspiration!
Great recipe! I always make my own dressings and loved this new twist. We enjoyed it on a salad with salmon & curried cauliflower and then the next day on a wrap. Next time, I’ll make double because I ran out too quickly!
Hannah – thanks so much for the great ideas! You’ve got me wanting to make curried cauliflower now!
I have a whole pot of Thai basil in the green house that finally needs moved outside. I love all basils and I usually have four or five varieties.
Have a good trip!
Debra recently posted..Carne Asada Pizza with Chevre and Cilantro Sauce
It’s only since moving here that I realize just how varied basil is, Debra. There are so many ways to use it. You give me hope that I’ll be able to have Thai basil on-hand when I get back to the US!
Hi Jess! I haven’t done much over the last month other than work and school, but we did put in a small garden on our patio one weekend, and we do have a particularly luscious basil plant. This vinaigrette looks just perfect! I’ll have to whiz up a jar and keep it on hand so we can enjoy the basil flavour on everything while we still have it. Thanks for yet another great recipe!
This dressing is so versatile. I have tried it on green salads as well as pasta & faro salads. I have directed my clients to your website and they have also enjoyed it. The lemon and honey are the perfect complement to the fresh basil. Thank you for sharing!
Elyssa – thanks so much for the feedback. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve liked it and that it will be useful for your clients.
Love it. Look forward to curried cauliflower …I too would love the recipe
San
I love this and I am actually eating at work right now on my salad with fresh greens feta strawberries and Swai fish. Its absolutely wonderful! Better than any store bought dressing. You just throw everything in the food processor. Well worth it!