Basil Leaves

There are many types of basil, which vary in size, color, and flavor, and all can be used for culinary purposes. Basil goes with almost everything, but it has a special affinity with tomatoes. Freshly torn basil leaves are delicious on a salad of sliced tomatoes, lightly seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper and drizzled with a fruity extra-virgin olive oil, accompanied by crusty bread. Italians cooks, however, preserve their prolific basil crops by filling a jar with the leaves, lightly salting them, topping up the jar with olive oil, closing it tightly, and storing it in the refrigerator.