Picture this: it’s a beautiful morning at Union Square Greenmarket. While walking around, you are immediately hit with a strong, sweet aroma. You know it when you smell it—it’s basil. The ever familiar, nostalgic, divine fragrance. Basil is a culinary herb native to tropical regions, such as Central Africa to Southeast Asia. It’s a summer crop, so its season is starting to dwindle. It’s time to start thinking of ways to preserve it for the winter and beyond. Here are a two easy ways to save your basil: 🌿Freezing basil is one of the easiest ways to preserve the produce. Freezing tends to retain the vibrant, green color of the leaves and maintain a fresher taste. Pick off the leaves, lay them on a baking sheet, and flash freeze. Or try blanching them for 15 seconds, shocking them in an ice bath, then flash freezing. With either method, once frozen, transfer to a ziplock and suck out all the air. Keep that fresh basil flavor for up to a year. 🌿Drying basil is another common way to preserve the produce. All you need is a dry, well-ventilated room. The basil will fade in color, but this way it’s easily accessible in your spice cabinet for a pinch or a sprinkle whenever you need. 🌿Blend with a little bit of olive oil and, once liquified, freeze in ice cube trays! Drop a cube into your soups, pasta sauces, or top your pizzas all winter long! As summer is quickly coming to a close, take this time to think about ways to preserve the harvest. Sound off in the comments below! #gmktnyc #grownyc