Best Basil French Recipes

BASIL PESTO, TOMATO, CHEESE AND FRENCH BREAD MELT.

Steps:

• Cut french bread across the loaf or at a small angle, making your pieces and inch thick or even thicker.
• With a brush, lightly paint one side and the slice edges with olive oil.
• Spread a thin layer of Bonnie's Pesto on the slices. (or thick if you like).
• Arrange slices of tomato in the top of the slice to cover.
• Lightly salt and pepper.
• Either broil or use a toaster oven to quickly toast the tomato slices. The tomato will not be "cooked" but simply heated up a little.
• When they are almost done, remove and sprinkle to cover with the two cheeses mixed together. Return to toaster until cheese is melted.
• This is an excellent appetizer or side dish with anything italian.

FRENCH STRING BEANS/ GREEN BEANS, TOMATO & BASIL SALAD

Steps:

• Place approximately 1/2 inch of water in a medium-sized stainless steel saucepan and add about 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Bring to a boil.
• Add the string beans.
• Cover and bring to a strong boil for 5 minutes.
• They just turn crunchy, cooked and a wonderful green (not brownish!).
• Using a skimmer, lift the beans from the pan and spread them on a large plate to cook off.
• Toss the beans with 2 tbsp white wine vinegar and oil.
• Season and set aside.
• Peel the tomatoes if desired but it is not necessary.
• Slice crosswise very thinly.
• Place the seasoned string beans in the center of a large platter and arrange the slices of tomatoes around.
• Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Tomatoes need a lot of salt.
• Then sprinkle with vinegar and oil.
• Wash the fresh basil leaves and separate the leaves.
• Pile the largest leaves together.
• Roll the leaves into a tight bundle and slice them into very thin, long strips.
• Cut the onion into very thin slices and separate the slices into individual rings.
• With the beans at the center of the plate, sprinkle the onions on top, surround the green beans with tomato slices, and then arrange the sliced basil leaves around it forming a border.

SAVORY FRENCH TOAST WITH HOMEMADE SAUSAGE PATTIES AND WARM HONEY, STRAWBERRIES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat the griddle to medium.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk or cream, the cheese, the nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste, in a shallow dish.
• In a medium bowl add the pork, sage, onion, garlic, fennel, cloves, lots of black pepper and salt, to taste, and mix to combine. Divide the mixture into 4 pieces and form each piece into 2 small patties, about 2 1/2-inches wide. Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Turn off the heat and keep warm in the pan.
• Wipe the hot griddle with butter nested in a paper towel. Soak the bread, a few slices at a time, in the milk mixture, shaking off the excess. Add the bread to the griddle and cook until toasted, crispy and golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Cook in batches, if necessary.
• While the bread toasts, combine the strawberries, basil and sugar in a medium bowl.
• Halve the toast from corner to corner. Serve the toast on individual plates layered with sausage patties, a liberal drizzle of honey and the berries with basil.

ZUCCHINI BREAD FRENCH TOAST WITH BASIL MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• For the basil maple syrup: In a saucepan, bring the maple syrup and basil leaves to a simmer. Set aside to steep for 5 minutes, and then strain out the basil leaves.
• For the French toast: Whisk together the cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and eggs in a bowl and pour into a shallow baking dish. Add the zucchini bread slices and allow to sit for 30 seconds on each side.
• Heat the butter in a large pan or griddle until it begins to froth. Add the zucchini bread slices and cook until browned and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Divide the French toast among plates and top with confectioners' sugar. Serve with the warm basil maple syrup.

BASIL BACON & TOMATO FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C Place the bacon on a baking tray and cook for 12-15 minutes or until crisp.
• Place the tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 5 minutes or until the skins just split.
• Set aside and keep warm. Place the eggs, cream, parmesan, basil, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
• Heat the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Dip the bread in the egg mixture and cook, in batches, for 2 minutes each side or until golden.
• Serve with the bacon and roasted tomatoes.

FRENCH BASIL CHICKEN - SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil over medium heat, add onion and cook until soft.
• 2. Add garlic, Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper, cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add flour, stir for 1 minute, add the wine, cook for 1 minute. Add the stock and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.
• 3. Stir in artichoke hearts, remove from heat.
• 4. Place chicken thighs in the crock pot, and cover with sauce. Sprinkle with basil.
• 5. Cook on low for 6 1/2 hours. Chicken will be pretty much falling off the bone at this point. So I remove the chicken from the crock pot, remove the bones from the thighs, and cut / shred the chicken meat, and return to the crock pot. Give a stir to mix in. Delicious served over rice. Enjoy!

BASIL FRENCH 75

Steps:

• Muddle basil leaves with sugar in a shaker. Add gin, lemon juice, and ice. Shake, and strain. Add ice and Champagne.

SUN OVEN BRAISED FRENCH BASIL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Set Global Sun Oven out to preheat. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper. Add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the broth and the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Stir in the artichoke hearts and remove from heat. Arrange the chicken pieces evenly over the bottom of a roasting pan or baking dish and pour the tomato mixture over them. Cover and cook in the Sun Oven until the chicken is fork tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Stir in the red pepper and basil; continue cooking until the pepper is tender, about 20 minutes.

WHITE WHOLE WHEAT FRENCH BAGUETTE | LEMONS AND BASIL

Steps:

• Add warm water, yeast, and honey to medium bowl. Whisk together until honey and yeast have fully dissolved, then let sit for 5 minutes or until foam forms on top.
• Combine white whole wheat flour with sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add in the yeast mixture, stirring to combine. Mix until dough becomes a fairly smooth ball, then knead for five minutes. I did this by hand on a floured surface, but you can also use an electric mixer {Kitchen Aid} with dough hook.
• Cut the dough into two equal halves, then shape into baguettes. I love the rustic look of shaping them by hand, but for a smooth professional look, you can roll them into a rectangle using a rolling pin, then roll up lengthwise and pinch off the edges to seal.
• Place each baguette onto greased baking sheet {seem down if you rolled out}, cover lightly with plastic wrap or clean towel and set aside to rise for 30-40 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. For an authentic look, use a serrated knife to gently make slash down the length of each baguette or diagonal lines across the top as shown in pictures above.
• To keep the bread moist, add water to a SEPARATE baking sheet and place on bottom rack in oven, then bake baguette loaves for 15 minutes on center rack. For that golden/crispy outer edge, brush each baguette with melted butter halfway through baking process.