Best Basil Mint Oil Recipes

GRILLED HALLOUMI WITH WATERMELON AND BASIL-MINT OIL

Steps:

• Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high. Purée basil, 3 tablespoons mint, and garlic in a blender. With machine running, add 1/2 cup oil. Set a strainer over a small bowl; strain, pressing on solids. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush grill rack with oil. Drizzle 2 tablespoons basil-mint oil over tomatoes and cheese; season with salt and pepper. Grill tomatoes, turning occasionally, until charred and bursting, about 4 minutes. Grill cheese until nicely charred in spots and beginning to melt, about 45 seconds per side.
• Arrange melon on a platter. Top with cheese and tomatoes. Drizzle remaining herb oil over; garnish with sliced mint.

LOBSTER SALAD WITH CORN, SUGAR SNAP PEAS, AND BASIL-MINT OIL

Steps:

• In a 10- to 12-quart kettle bring 8 quarts water to a boil with bay leaves and coarse salt. Plunge 1 lobster into water headfirst and simmer, covered, 12 minutes. With tongs immediately transfer lobster to a bowl to cool. Return water to a boil and cook remaining lobster in same manner.
• When lobsters are cool enough to handle, break off claws at body of each lobster. Crack claws and remove meat. Reserve some claw meat, covered and chilled, for garnish if desired and cut remainder into bite-size pieces. Twist tails off lobster bodies and discard bodies. With kitchen shears remove thin hard membrane from underside of each tail by cutting just inside outer edge of shell. Remove meat from each tail and cut into bite-size pieces. Transfer claw and tail meat to a large bowl and chill, covered.
• Shuck corn and cut kernels from cobs. Trim sugar snap peas and diagonally cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut bell peppers into 1- by 1/4-inch-thick strips. Finely chop enough shallots to measure 1/3 cup.
• In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté peas and bell peppers with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer sautéed vegetables to a plate and cool completely. Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet and sauté corn and shallots with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer corn mixture to another plate and cool completely. Add all vegetables with salt and pepper to taste to lobster, tossing to combine. Chill salad, covered, until cold and up to 1 day.
• Toss salad with lemon juice and serve with basil-mint oil and lemon wedges.

BASIL-MINT OIL

Steps:

• Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. In a saucepan of boiling water blanch herbs 5 seconds and with a slotted spoon immediately transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Drain herbs well and pat dry. In a blender purée herbs with remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour oil through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids, and discard solids. Oil may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring oil to room temperature before using.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER OLIVE OIL CUPCAKES WITH LIME BUTTERCREAM, OPAL BASIL, MINT, AND LIME ZEST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini cupcake pans with 48 mini cupcake liners.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the oil and sugar on high speed until creamy and fully incorporated. Mix in the crystallized ginger until fully incorporated. Add the egg whites and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt in a large bowl. On medium speed, add the flour mixture alternately with the milk and vanilla mixture until combined. Do not over-mix. Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters of the way and bake for 15 minutes.
• To assemble: Using a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip, pipe the top of the cupcakes in a dot pattern with Lime Buttercream, creating 6 dots to cover the tops of the cakes. Snip a small cluster from the stem of each branch of the micro herbs. Place the bunches in the center of the icing. Zest fresh lime zest over the cakes to finish off the garnish.
• Place the lime juice and cornstarch in a small pan on the stove. Cook over medium heat, whisking, until the mixture thickens. Transfer the lime curd to a silicone mat and refrigerate until cool, about 5 minutes. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and salt. Add the cooled lime curd. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

BASIL AND MINT OIL

Steps:

• In a pot bring 3 quarts salted water to a rolling boil. Place herb leaves in a strainer and lay in water for about 20 to 30 seconds. Remove from water and lay in large bowl of ice water to stop cooking and retain brilliant color. Remove any stray leaves from boiling water with a slotted spoon and add to leaves in ice water.
• Drain herbs and place on paper towels. Wring gently to dry. Place in blender. Add salt, oil and sugar and puree until mixture is very smooth.
• Pour oil though a sieve and press on solids. Discard remaining solids.
• Chill oil to store up to three days. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.

ZUCCHINI WITH BASIL OIL AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to the boil. Add the zucchini and blanch for 45 seconds. Drain and immediately place under cold running water until cool. Drain again and pat dry. Place zucchini in a bowl and toss with the basil oil, lime juice, mint, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Can be served cold or at room temperature.

GRILLED HALLOUMI WITH WATERMELON AND BASIL-MINT OIL

Steps:

• Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high.
• Puree basil, 3 tablespoons mint, and garlic in a blender. With machine running, add 1/2 cup of oil. Strain the puree over a small bowl, pressing on solids. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush grill rack with oil. Drizzle 2 tablespoons basil-mint oil over tomatoes and cheese; season with salt and pepper. Grill tomatoes, turning occasionally, until charred and bursting, about 4 minutes. Grill cheese until nicely charred in spots and beginning to melt, about 45 seconds per side.
• Arrange melon on a platter. Top with cheese and tomatoes. Drizzle with remaining herb oil, and garnish with sliced mint.