Latest news with #basil
Telegraph
6 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Peperonata and fried egg focaccia
This is a great brunch dish to take your time over, letting the peperonata (a pepper stew) simmer away so you really deepen the flavour. We've got a feeling it will be a popular one at the new Cafe Murano. Overview Prep time 10 mins Cook time 1 hr 10 mins Serves 4 Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the focaccia 1 onion, finely sliced 2 sweet peppers (red and yellow), deseeded and sliced or chopped into chunks 2 garlic cloves, grated 200g passata 2 tbsp chopped basil, or a handful of torn basil leaves 4 slices of focaccia (each about 9x10cm) 1 tbsp butter, for frying 4 large eggs
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Sepps and Nonna's Cherry Tomato Pasta
Serves 4Ingredients:400g cherry tomatoes on the vine2 cloves garlic2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil½ tsp chilli flakes100ml plant based creampinch sea salt1 - 2 tsp sugar¼ tsp bicarbonate soda100g fresh basil350g penne or pasta of choice2 tbsp nutritional yeastMethod:Add olive oil to a pan and bring to a medium crushed garlic and infuse for 1 cherry tomatoes (sliced in half), and soften for a few salt, sugar, basil, chilli flakes and bicarbonate soda. Mix and a dash of cream, to help combine it cooks, cook the the cooked and drained pasta to the tomatoes, with a little pasta water to with nutritional yeast in small bowls.
Telegraph
25-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
How to make your supermarket herbs last longer and go further
If you've watched too many pots of supermarket basil wither and die when you've barely picked a few leaves, take heart. A viral hack promises to transform that puny pot into a thriving, bushy plant that can last for months. And those bunches of herbs that go slimy in their packets before you've used them up? With the right treatment, they can stay fresh far longer than you might expect. Skip to: Love them or loathe them, supermarket options are the most convenient and accessible form of herbs for most of us. They're not perfect, says Mark Diacono, a grower and author of Herb: A Cook's Companion (Quadrille, £26). 'Supermarket herbs tend to be grown fast and unsustainably using heat and a lot of feed and water,' he says. 'And some varieties of coriander and basil are chosen more for reliability than flavour.' But buying 'living' supermarket herbs in pots can still be a good thing. 'It's the most easily accessible way to grow herbs,' he says. How to produce bushy basil from a supermarket pot Interior designer Leanne Kilroy has racked up more than 27 million views on her Instagram account @goodboneslondon by demonstrating how to turn small, gangly pots of basil into large, flourishing plants. The roots of supermarket basil tend to be cramped and tangled in small plastic pots, Kilroy explains, and when left alone they rarely last more than a week or two. But by replanting the herb into much bigger pots and giving them a little TLC, they can grow into healthy and productive plants that last for months. Kilroy suggests transplanting the basil into terracotta pots, which allow for good aeration and drainage, filled with compost. If you like, you can carefully divide the root ball into two or three plants and pot them separately. Once replanted, give the basil a final generous drink from the top. Then place the pot in a saucer or shallow bowl of water, and keep it topped up at all times – don't water from above. Choose a sunny spot indoors for it to live. 'Snipping the stems, rather than plucking leaves, once the basil is actively growing will create a healthier, bushier plant,' Kilroy says, adding that any flowers must be trimmed immediately. With the right conditions and a little luck, you could end up with an astonishingly long supply of basil. 'Last year, mine lasted nine or ten months and would still be hobbling on if I hadn't made pesto with it,' she says. She has also had success doing this with parsley. How to store supermarket herbs to help them last longer Bunches of herbs sold in packets can last for days if stored correctly, says Victoria Green, Waitrose 's salads and veg expert. Keep most cut herbs in their original packaging in the fridge's salad drawer, where stable temperatures and gentle humidity help preserve freshness. 'Any temperature abuse before refrigerating can cause issues,' she warns, but an unopened bag might last up to seven days unopened. Once open, roll the top of the bag over to make it as airtight as possible. Those elastic bands around the stalks? Keep them on: 'It means you can chop from the top of the bunch (or the bottom if you want stalks), then easily put the remaining product back in the bag.' The exception is basil. 'It thrives when kept in a cool, dry place, not in the fridge,' says Green. Leave it in its original packaging, away from sunlight which will make it 'sweat'. In the cupboard is best. If you buy herbs without packaging, stand them in a jar of water, cover with a plastic bag secured with an elastic band, and store them in the fridge door, advises Catherine Phipps, author of Leaf (Quadrille, £25). 'If keeping them upright is not possible, soak a piece of kitchen towel in water, wrap it around the stems and store flat in a bag or preferably an airtight container,' she says. Depending on freshness at the time of purchase (Phipps suggests trimming the ends of the stalks if they're dry), herbs can last up to two weeks when stored this way. How to make supermarket herbs go further in food and drinks Herbs can elevate far more dishes than most people realise, says Csabi Nagy, executive chef at London's Petersham Nurseries, so it's easy to use them up. With eggs Parsley, chives, basil, dill, marjoram and sage especially are natural companions to eggs. Fold them through scrambled eggs, or scatter over the top of fried or poached. Try frying eggs in butter with a few sage leaves. 'It's a delicious combination,' says Nagy. Or make a quick herb salsa: finely chop a mixture of soft herbs, stir through some olive oil and a pinch of lemon zest, then spoon this over eggs, or with meat, chicken or fish. In salads Herbs are often overlooked as salad ingredients but offer great potential. 'I personally like dill or fennel herb, basil and marjoram, as they give a bit of freshness and bring their own character,' says Nagy. It works best to combine them with more robust lettuce leaves, and keep the dressing simple, too, so the herbs can shine. 'A basic lemon dressing made with 70 per cent olive oil and 30 per cent lemon juice goes a long way,' he says. In drinks Mint commonly features but others are delicious, too. 'We use rosemary for a bit of sophistication,' says Nagy, especially when infused into clear spirits. Tarragon pairs beautifully with gin or some whiskies, while thyme works well in citrusy cocktails. Basil adds a little kick and complements both vodka and gin. 'The best way to bring out the flavour is to infuse them or crush them directly into the drink,' Nagy says. Phipps suggests scalding your chosen herb sprig in boiling water, drying it thoroughly, and leaving it to infuse in the alcohol indefinitely. In yogurt and butter Mix chopped tender herbs and crushed garlic into Greek yogurt for an easy dip or sauce to serve with grilled meat or chicken, or instead of mayonnaise in sandwiches. Phipps suggests mixing finely chopped herbs with softened butter and other aromatics like lemon zest, garlic or chilli flakes. 'Simply pile onto a piece of cling film or baking paper, shape into a log, roll up tightly, store in the freezer and cut slices as necessary.' Use the stems The thin, tender stems of soft herbs like parsley, coriander and basil have bags of flavour and can be used just like the leaves. But slightly woody or stringy stalks don't have to be wasted. 'We use the stems in stocks, chicken or beef sauces and vegetable stocks,' Nagy says. Rosemary and thyme stalks can also be added to the grill to deliver a gentle hint of smoky herb flavour, he suggests. Longer-term solutions to stretch out supermarket herbs If you know you're not going to get through all your herbs before they turn, preserve them using one of the following methods. Freeze Phipps suggests finely chopping herbs, packing them into ice-cube trays and topping them with water, olive oil or melted butter. 'Once frozen, you can then turn them out into bags or boxes for easy storage,' she says. Stalks can be chopped very finely and stored in a tub in the freezer for a quick flavour boost for everything from eggs to soups. Dry Hard herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage can be tied in bunches and hung upside down for a few days to dry. Strip the leaves from the stems and store in jars. Salt A tablespoon of dried herbs can be mixed with 50g sea salt to create a useful seasoning, but you don't have to follow the air-dried method; I've found that microwaving also works. Place individual rosemary stalks on a piece of kitchen paper, then set another piece of kitchen paper on top. Microwave on high for 30-second bursts, checking between each one until the rosemary is dry and crumbly (a recent batch required six 30-second bursts). Once dried, the leaves and salt 'can be blitzed together to a fine powder, so the salt has a slightly grittier texture than icing sugar, or bashed together using a pestle and mortar for a coarser texture,' says Phipps.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The Canny Cook: Cherry tomato and pancetta pasta
Few dishes bring me as much joy in the summer as pasta with cherry tomato sauce. It has been a true staple of my warm-weather cooking for as long as I can remember. Although there may be small variations in the supporting ingredients, the heart of the dish always remains the same: really good extra virgin olive oil and vibrant tomatoes. I almost always have a punnet of cherry tomatoes in the fridge in summer, which is handy because larger ones just don't deliver the same results. Cherry tomatoes are naturally sweet and juicy, with a more concentrated flavour and lower water content. They also contain more pectin (a natural thickening agent) than bigger varieties, which means they emulsify with the olive oil to create a rich, velvety sauce. In this recipe, I've added salty pancetta, of which a little goes a long way. If you are looking for a vegetarian option, try replacing it with a couple of tablespoons of capers, torn black olives or chopped sun-dried tomatoes – anything that brings a briny, umami hit. Alternatively, you could skip the shallot and pancetta and just add some thinly sliced garlic for the simplest take on this sauce. As with most tomato- based pastas, a few torn basil leaves and a showering of grated parmesan provide the perfect finishing touches. METHOD Finely dice the shallots. Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large frying pan, add the shallots and pancetta, and fry over a medium heat for 6-7 minutes until the shallot softens and the pancetta is golden. Quarter the tomatoes and add to the pan with a pinch of salt, turning up the heat a notch. Fry for another 6-7 minutes until they have broken down a little. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water for a minute less than the packet instructions. Scoop out a mugful of the cooking water before draining. Tip the drained pasta into the frying pan with the tomatoes and pancetta. Add a glug of the cooking water and toss everything over the heat for a minute. Divide between plates and top with plenty of parmesan and a few torn basil leaves, if you have them. Season with ground black pepper and serve. Do you have a great recipe for eating well and cutting food bills? Email editor@ If we print it here, we'll send you a bottle of champagne *This cost assumes you already have some basic store-cupboard ingredients. prices taken from aldi and correct at time of going to press.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Four ways to grow your own herbs and save buying at the supermarket
SUMMER is the perfect thyme to rustle up light dishes packed with fresh herbs. Coriander, parsley and biggest seller basil are all in demand this season, so you might want to grow your own. Here's how to keep them in mint condition. 7 TOP OF THE POTS: Bought potted herbs will likely need a health reboot. As soon as you get them home, replant them in a bigger container. Add some good quality compost. If you have some specifically for vegetables, that's even better. Gently loosen the roots before planting so they have space to flourish. SAGE ADVICE: When deciding where to place your potted herbs so they thrive, it's wise to pick a semi-sunny spot. They may not have been grown in natural sunlight, so putting them on a hot south-facing sill may be too much. Find somewhere that gets sun, but isn't too much of a hotspot. Avoid draughts or radiators, and don't group them too close together. They need space to grow. It's best to place those from a supermarket on a saucer or shallow dish and water when it runs dry. The best-selling fresh herb, basil, should only be watered in the morning so it can dry out overnight. You should prune your herbs or use them regularly as this encourages them to grow. FREEZY DOES IT: Freezing your herbs will mean you can use them for months to come. Wash and dry them, then freeze the stems and leaves in a freezer bag. Alternatively, snip the washed herbs into an ice cube tray before topping with water or oil. Then freeze. You could also mix cut herbs and room-temperature butter. Freeze in an ice cube tray, then use in your cooking or to top meat, fish or vegetables. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day MAKE a last minute dash for dad with the Levi's cotton loose fit shirt, down from £51 to £25 at John Lewis. Cheap treat 7 FOR stylish sunnies on a budget, try these £6 pink tortoiseshell cats eye sunglasses from Peacocks. Top swap THIS lemon A3 print, above, £23 from Dunelm, will add zing to your walls. But the one below, £8 for A3 from George at Asda, is also a zesty addition to any home. Shop & save ENJOY a tipple with Tails Passion Fruit Martini cocktail, down from £15.10 to £12.50 at Sainsbury's with a Nectar card, for a four-serve bottle. Hot right now IT'S the last day to get half-price fillet steak at Morrisons meat counter – down from £11.34 to £5.67 for an 8oz steak. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
