Well, it’s been nearly two weeks since I’ve purchased my basil plant, and I’m happy to announce that not only is it alive, but it’s been put to good use. This is shocking because let’s face it, I have a terrible track record with plants (see The Parsley Chronicles). Making matters worse is that my basil plant is currently housed in a remote corner of my balcony. Specifically, it’s behind a satellite dish and out of everyday view, and as a result, I frequently forget to water the plant and have made on more than one occasion an emergency trip outdoors at 3 AM with a glass of water for my thirsty little herb pot. It can be very stressful.
Despite my neglect, the latchkey basil has fended well for itself. I’ve harvested it a couple of times, and if anything, that’s where the drama comes into play. I apparently made the most egregious affront to the pesto community ever. Details and photos after the jump…
As you may remember, the basil looked like this when first purchased.
There has since been pruning.
My first harvest. I froze most of it, but some of the leaves were spared for a lovely pasta dish.
The key has been to make sure the basil stays aligned in this narrow strip of sunlight.
But alas, mid-week I took a peek at my basil and saw it ailing. IT WAS THE PARSLEY ALL OVER AGAIN!
It hasn’t helped that the weather has been perpetually gloomy for the past two weeks (today excluded).
Luckily, my green thumb advisor jash informed me that the plant was fine. I just had one or two bad seeds. Disaster averted!
Yesterday, I decided to make pesto for the first time. As you can see, I plucked several leaves and dropped them in my mini-Cuisinart along with some olive oil and parmesan cheese.
Sassy!
However, I courted controversy and disdain from IndianJones and jash when I opted to use walnuts (it’s what I had in the pantry) for the pesto. They acted as if I decided to substitute feces for basil. Anyway, according to them, pesto with walnuts is NOT pesto. I argued that it’s merely WALNUT pesto and while different, totally acceptable.
Luckily our friend Neil brokered a peace by suggesting I call it westo. We were all happy with that. Incidentally, I put too many walnuts in my westo and kind of ruined it (didn’t have enough basil). I mean, it tastes fine, but more like a nutty mixture with herbs.
My camera died here; so you shall see no further photos.
I’m sure there will be future basil controversies. Fingers crossed that the plant stays alive.
yeah you know why it tastes nutty? BECAUSE ITS NOT PESTO
also, dont prune the plant down just to freeze some, only pick what you need to allow the plant to flourish with abandon.
Giada made a pesto with walnuts in it, so I think you are within the pesto boundaries.
We went shopping for new pots and potting soil yesterday and while at the gardening area, I saw a kit for growing different herbs–including basil and thought of you, b.
If you make it with pistachios is it Pisto?
hb
Does the basil taste normal to you? I ask because I also got a basil plant from Trader Joe’s and find that the leaves taste nothing like the fresh basil I’ve bought in stores. They just kind of taste like…leaves (yes, I’m sure it’s actually a basil plant!).
WTF is wrong w/ you, sir? Walnuts?
I have been DYING to try making pesto but from the recipes I read you need a lot of basil and I haven’t found enough/any at the store.
I have definitely seen pesto recipes with walnuts so just ignore the haters (JASH). You really should use pine nuts though. I won’t be putting any walnuts in MY pesto.
BTW, captcha sucks ass.
I’m so going to make pesto. Thanks for the idea. I have a bunch of basil and I love it. I however will make it with pine nuts, but I think walnuts are totally acceptable. I applaud you for thinking outside the box. That’s what the Top Chefs do, right?
Pesto can be made with all sorts of combinations of herbs and nuts. Parsley/walnut pesto is even sort of common.
Pesto alla genovese, which is what most people think of simply as ‘pesto’, is the traditional basil/pine nut combo.
I think you did just fine 🙂 Heck, I’m more concerned that you didn’t put any garlic in it! What were you thinking?!
jash simply has revealed the depths of his unimaginativeness.
though i am concerned that people will think westo is made out of westies. AND YOU KNOW I WOULDN’T APPROVE OF THAT.