I love basil! I add it to almost everything, in all different forms – fresh, dried, pesto, paste – I even have to hide the plant from my cats because they love chewing it (can’t say I blame them!)
Though I had a strange start to my love of basil, as we never had basil at home when I was growing up, because my Dad is allergic to it. I didn’t even know it existed for quite a while, until I was out for lunch one day and I decided to try Pesto Pasta – there my love began 🙂 It was almost like having a strange love affair while I lived at home, because I could only eat it when out of the house, so as not to trigger my Dad’s allergy.
I haven’t had to hide my basil-love for a while now and always like to have some growing fresh in the kitchen – though Florida is much better for growing it outside! I haven’t yet added herbs to the garden here, but a friend had a lovely “crop” of basil and she very kindly gave me some this weekend. Which was perfect timing as I’d just found a recipe on Pinterest for Basil Butter, and knew I had to try it!
I tweaked the recipe a little, adding more garlic and a little more basil. I added the garlic raw, but you could cook it first if you prefer 🙂
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter
4 tbsp cream cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (plus a few extra, because yey basil!)
2 cloves garlic (less if you aren’t as keen on garlic as we are)
1 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1. Chop up the basil. I don’t own a fancy chopper so I just rolled up the leaves, and used kitchen scissors to cut them finely. Put the chopped basil in a small bowl – I put it back in the measuring jug.
2. Mince the garlic – cooked or uncooked – and add to the basil. Add the olive oil and stir to mix well.
3. Soften the butter and cream cheese and mix together in a seperate bowl until smooth. Add the basil mixutre and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Enjoy!
It keeps fresh in the fridge, though we’ve almost used it all up in just a few days!
We tried it on toast (with and without cheese), I’ve also made a yummy tuna sandwich using the basil butter instead of regular butter – ohhhh that was good!
We’ve even stirred the basil butter into cooked pasta, topped with some grated cheese – you could stir in some pine nuts and/or baby tomatoes too. Everything as tasted great, I’ll definitely be making some more when this runs out!
This is my post for this week’s Hearth & Soul Blog Hop 🙂 Be sure to check out the other recipes on there this week and follow my blog for more tasty treats!
Delicious basil butter Aurelia, I love the cream cheese and butter combo great, thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.
I love making herb butters. I think it gives a boost to whatever you eat with the butter. I started out making my own butter and then went on to jazz it up. I love your photos!
hey aurelia Thank u for stopping by my space and like the mango kulfi. I really adore your comment so cheerful 🙂 Im sure If I keep getting such cheerful comments I’ll be encouraged to try new things and post it for sake of it 🙂
1st time to your space and you got very neat blog 🙂 will go thru your blog pretty quick 🙂 here by Following you now. Happy Blogging!!
Hi Aurelia,
Thanks for dropping by at my blog FOOD MAZAA.
I am glad to be here too.. will go trough your recipes..
This butter recipe is really nice .. will make it soon.