Simple Basil-Infusion with Warm Olive Oil
Making a Simple Basil Infusion with Warm Olive Oil is a great way to steep a lovely basil flavor into the oil. When it's finished and strained you can drizzle the oil on bread, salads, tomatoes, roasted vegetables, and more.
Ingredients
- 2 cups olive oil
- 1 cup basil fresh chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Sterilize a glass jar by washing, rinsing, and placing in the preheated oven to dry for 10 minutes.
- Wash and spin dry fresh basil leaves. Roll leaves into a cigar shape and cut into 1/4 inch ribbons. Place basil in the sterilized jar. Make sure the jar is filled at least halfway with basil. For a more intense flavor completely fill the jar with chopped basil.
- Heat oil over a low heat. Using a digital thermometer to heat until it reaches 105 degrees.
- Pour warm oil over the basil. Let basil steep for 2 days in a cool dry place.
- Use all the oil right away or strain the basil out using a fine mesh sieve and store the oil in a jar in a cool dry place. Use within two months or store in the refrigerator for 6 months. The downside of storing in the refrigerator is that it needs to come to room temperature before pouring.