How to preserve fresh herbs in Oil or Butter.
From Organic Gardening, Vol. 59:6, page 24
- Wash herbs, discarding stems and damaged leaves. Spin leaves dry in a salad spinner or dry well with paper towels.
- Place herbs in a food processor with 1/3 cup olive oil for every 2 cups leaves, or 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter per 2 to 4 tablespoons leaves.
- For butters, add grated citrus rind, ginger or garlic for extra flavor.
- To make sure herb oils are adaptable to a wide range of uses, don’t add cheese or nuts.
- Pulse processor, scraping down sides of bowl from time to time, until you get a chunky paste and all leaves are chopped.
- To package for freezing, put 1 cup herb oil or 1/2 cup herb butter in a 1-quart zip-top bag, then flatten and spread mixture to make a thin layer. Freeze flat.
- Best when used within 6 months.
Use herbs preserved in oil the same way that you use fresh herbs. Use herb butter the same way that you use butter.
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