Basil Oil Food

BASIL OIL (AND OTHER HERB FLAVORED OILS)

Steps:

• In a blender, puree the herbs and oil until completely smooth. Put the mixture in a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over moderate heat. Simmer for 45 seconds, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Don't press on the mixture, but you can tap the strainer against your hand to get the oil to drip through faster. Immediately strain the oil again through a flat-bottomed paper filter. If the filter clogs, you may need to change the filter partway through.
• It's okay to pick the filter up and squeeze it gently to get the oil out faster, but be careful not to break the filter. Sometimes a little dark liquid comes through the filter first. Don't worry; that's water. It will settle to the bottom because it is heavier than the oil. Let the filtered oil settle for a few hours, then pour it off the dark liquid. Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place.

BASIL OIL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a boil (about 1 gallon). Plunge in the basil and spinach and cook until soft, but still green, about 1 minute. Drain and transfer the greens to ice cold water to chill. When cold, remove and squeeze excess water from the greens. Pat them dry in a clean towel.
• Transfer the vegetables to a blender. Add the oil and salt and blend until smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove the basil oil and use, or store for up to 1 week, in an airtight container.

BASIL OIL

Steps:

• Blanch basil in medium saucepan of boiling water 10 seconds. Drain. Rinse under cold water. Pat basil dry with paper towels. Transfer to blender. Add oil; puree until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.)