Yesterday we talked about the health and energy boosting benefits of mint.  Did you know that basil is a member of the peppermint family?  Like mint, basil is high in vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, iron, calcium, copper, and potassium.  It is also packed with flavanoids and anti-inflammatory oils.

Basil is such a versatile herb.  It’s used in so many different types of cuisine – European, Asian, American, you name it!  One of our favorite ways to enjoy basil is in pesto!

To make our pesto a little more healthy—cutting the calories and fat, we like to leave out the cheese and nuts.  Instead, we puree basil leaves, onions, garlic, and olive oil.  It’s great to throw on whole wheat pasta, on a sandwich, or to garnish a soup.  Just remember, when pureeing, add the oil to the food processor last to help bind all of the ingredients!

What do you do with pesto?  Let us know if you have a recipe for a lower calorie pesto, we’d love to try it too!

photo from examiner.com