Sarasotas Garlic Basil Oil Recipes

SUNNY'S EASY BASIL AND GARLIC OIL

Steps:

• To steep the oil: In a small pot on the lowest heat setting, add the oil, basil and garlic. Cook on low for 20 minutes.
• Strain the oil using a fine-mesh sieve and cool to room temperature. Add the fresh basil leaves to finish. Store in the fridge and keep for 1 week.

SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place spaghetti in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• In a large bowl, toss the spaghetti with the olive oil, butter, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

BURRATA CAPRESE SALAD WITH GARLIC BASIL OIL

Steps:

• Cut the tomatoes into 1/3-inch-thick slices, then depending on the size, cut the slices into halves or quarters. Arrange the tomatoes on a serving platter and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Drizzle most of the Garlic-Basil Oil over the tomatoes. Tear the burrata balls into large pieces and scatter over the tomatoes. Top the burrata with some of the remaining Garlic-Basil Oil. Serve immediately.
• Add the basil, olive oil, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a high-powered blender. Turn the blender on low and gradually increase the speed. Blend until smooth.

SARASOTA'S ITALIAN GARLIC BEAN, PASTA & ARUGULA SOUP

Steps:

• Soup Base -- In a large pot, add the olive oil and heat to medium. Add the garlic and onion and cook 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften.
• Beans -- Take 1 1/2 cans of the beans of mix them with a little of the chicken broth (1 cup or so) in a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until pureed. Not too long.
• Then to the pot with the onion and garlic, add in the rest of the beans, the pureed beans and the rest of the broth. Bring to a medium boil and add the pasta in and cook until al dente. Should take around 8-10 minutes is all.
• Arugula -- Once the pasta is cooked, remove from the heat and add the arugula and parsley, and any salt and pepper to taste. The arugula will cook just with the heat of the soup.
• Serve -- I serve this with some good olive oil as a garnish drizzled over the top and some crusty bread if you are just having the soup or you can make some grilled sandwiches on the side. ENJOY!

SARASOTA'S ROASTED GARLIC STEAK SAUCE

Steps:

• Garlic -- There are many different methods to roast your garlic, so use what you feel comfortable with.
• I peel the outside layer of the skin off (keeping the head together), then cut a thin slice off the top to expose the garlic cloves. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap in foil and roast in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until the cloves are soft. Let it cool.
• Sauce -- Once the garlic is cool, squeeze all the roasted out of the individual cloves and add to s small sauce pot. Break up the cloves slightly with a fork. Add the wine, steak sauce and onion and bring to a boil and then immediately reduce to low heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Ready to serve.
• This could easily be made ahead and then reheated. It should be served warm. ENJOY!
• Note prep time does not include roasting the garlic.

SARASOTA'S TENDER GARLIC CUBE STEAKS

Steps:

• Crackers -- The first step is to crush the saltines. About 20-25 crackers will give you about 1 cup, but crush them fine. A fine crushed cracker will stay on the beef better than those not crushed well. I just use a baggie (ziploc) and my meat mallet or rolling pin. Use anything you have.
• Steak -- Bring the steak to room temp and season well with salt and pepper and make sure to rub in the seasoning.
• Breading Station -- Dip #1 - Wet -- In a small bowl or pie plate, beat the eggs well. Dip #2 - Dry -- In a small bowl or pie plate again, add the cracker crumbs, thyme, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
• Dip each cube steak into the egg mixture, then into the cracker crumbs coating well. Make sure to press the crackers crumbs into the steaks.
• Pan Fry -- In a large saute pan, heat up the olive oil to medium high heat and add the steaks. Make sure you use a large enough pan so they are not crowded. Brown well on the first side until golden brown. Then flip, you may need to add a bit more oil if the pan is too dry - not much, just a touch. Add in the sliced onion and garlic and brown the second side until golden brown as well. Then reduce the heat to low. Add 1/4 cup of the beef broth and cover. Cook 30-40 minutes until tender. Stir once or twice during cooking.
• Sauce -- Once the steaks are done, remove and cover with foil. Make sure to leave the onions in the pan. Mix the cornstarch with the remaining beef broth and pour into the pan along with the garlic and onions. Bring to a boil until thickened and then reduce the heat and just simmer 2-3 minutes. Add in the parsley and taste for any additional seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Serve -- Pour the onion gravy over the individual steaks. ENJOY! Serve this with some mashed potatoes or parsnips, peas, carrots and I love a couple of grilled portabellos. Just a great classic dish.

SARASOTA'S UPSCALE TOMATO AND ONION SANDWICH

Steps:

• Aioli -- Chop your olive, fairly fine and add to a small bowl with the mayo, lemon zest, thyme and basil. Season with a little pepper and set in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Tomatoes and Onions -- In a small pan (not metal), add the olive oil and vinegar. Set the tomato and onion slices in and flip to make sure they are covered on both sides. Let marinade 30 minutes to 1 hour. Doesn't need any longer.
• Grill -- I really prefer these grilled, but if not, a indoor grill pan will work. I don't think a saute pan works as well but if that is all you have, it should be fine. I sprayed mine lightly with a non stick spray and brought to medium high heat.
• Add the onions first as they take a bit longer than the tomatoes. But we don't want them falling apart, just some nice grill marks and then begin to soften (2 minutes per side, approximately). Remove the onions off to the side and add the tomatoes and rolls. The rolls I just like to lightly toast, they take literally just 30 seconds or so. The tomatoes, about 1-2 minutes per side. You still want them firm, not soft, but lightly grilled and warmed up.
• Sandwich -- Spread the aioli on both sides of the bun. I add one tomato slice to the bottom roll, then the onion, then the other tomato slice, arugula and the top roll.
• Serve -- A nice bowl of summertime vegetable soup, favorite potato or vegetable salad, grilled potato wedges or creamy coleslaw and you have a great light dinner.
• ENJOY!
• Note: Prep time includes the marinating of the tomatoes and onions.