Basil dip is a dipping sauce made of the round and pointed fragrant leaves of basil plant. The dip is served with vegetable or meat dishes, and imparts additional flavor to such dishes besides improving their nutritive value.
Basil Dip Recipe Overview
Ingredients: The ingredients used for the basic basil dip recipe are fresh basil, sour cream, salt and pepper.
Method of Preparation: The basil leaves are finely chopped and mixed into the sour cream along with salt and pepper. This simple recipe can be altered as per individual taste and ingredients like chilies can be included.
Serving Basil Dip
The dip pairs perfectly with barbeque meat, potatoes and other vegetables. It can also be served with bread, crackers or crisps.
Basil Dip Recipe Variations
There are many variations to the basic recipe for basil dip which are quite popular, and some of them have been discussed here-
Hawaiian Dip: It is a dip served with crackers or fresh vegetables, and is made with dried basil, pineapple juice, chives, avocado and salt. All the ingredients are combined and processed till smooth to make the dip.
Avocado Dip: Avocado based dip is made by mixing mashed avocado, onion, thyme, basil, rosemary, marjoram, sage, mayonnaise and sour cream and is served with breads or crackers.
Green Herb Dip: The dip is made with plain yoghurt, mayonnaise, finely chopped green onion, parsley, watercress leaves, basil leaves and salt. The dip is prepared by processing the ingredients in a blender. It is served with raw vegetables.
Red Pepper and Basil Dip: It is made with cashews, cloves, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, fresh basil leaves, tahini and chopped and roasted red bell pepper. The cashews are first soaked for a few hours in water before making the dip, which is made by processing the ingredients in a blender. The dip is often served with fresh vegetables, or as a sandwich spread or sauce with pasta or fish.
Nutritional Information on Basil Dips
Basil dip has moderate level of calories and can be included in any healthy meal plan. Basil has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is also a rich source of iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fibers and beta carotene.