Basil is a spicy plant with a bright taste and incomparable aroma. It can be found in almost any garden, but not every housewife knows what exactly to do with basil. Traditionally it is used as a seasoning for meat or fish. But, in eastern countries, tea and aromatic tonic drinks are made from basil. All this suggests that the leaves are an excellent product for making homemade compotes. Basil compote will be an excellent preparation for the winter.
Features of preparing basil compote for the winter
In order for the prepared compote to be tasty and aromatic, it is very important to pay enough attention to the quality of the ingredients and correctly calculate their ratios.
Selection and preparation of main ingredients
It is best to use purple basil leaves; they will give the compote a rich red color. Green is also suitable, but then the color of the compote will be pale yellow.
Compote is brewed exclusively from fresh raw materials; if you take dried leaves, the drink will turn out bitter.
How to properly prepare containers
A 3-liter glass jar is an ideal container for rolling. There are several basic ways to prepare jars for canning:
- boiling in water;
- oven processing;
- processing in a double boiler.
Whatever method is chosen, you need to do everything very carefully; if you heat the jar too much, it can burst. Also, you should not use containers that already have chips, even if they are very small..
How to make basil compote at home
There are several basic compote recipes. But they all have a rich taste and aroma.
Classic recipe
Very easy to prepare and incredibly tasty compote.
Ingredients:
- water – 3 l;
- basil – 3 bunches;
- sugar – 100 g;
- citric acid – 0.5 tsp.
Cooking method:
- Separate the leaves from the stems and place them in a saucepan.
- Add sugar and citric acid to the leaves.
- Fill the contents of the pan with cold, preferably distilled water.
- Bring to a boil; if the liquid evaporates, add water.
- Boil for 15 minutes, then pour the hot drink into a jar.
Option with apples
The drink turns out to be apple-spicy.
Ingredients:
- apples – 1.5 kg;
- basil – 1 bunch;
- sugar – 350 g;
- water – 3 l.
Cooking method:
- Place large apple slices in a jar and cover with granulated sugar.
- Add chopped basil.
- Pour hot (not boiling water!) water.
- Sterilize the jar for 25 minutes.
- Sterilize the jar, turn it over and cover with a towel, leave for a day.
With lemon and honey
Honey and lemon are a great addition. This compote has many useful properties.
Ingredients:
- basil – 2 bunches;
- lemon – 1 pc.;
- water – 3 l;
- linden honey - 3 tbsp.
Cooking method:
- Place washed basil leaves in a saucepan.
- Cut the lemon and add to the leaves.
- Pour water over everything and boil.
- Add honey, cook for another 10-15 minutes.
With apricots
Basil compote with apricots is a real treasure trove of vitamins and macroelements. The drink has a rich aroma and taste.
Ingredients:
- basil – 3 bunches;
- water – 2 l;
- lemon – 1 pc.;
- apricots – 1.5 kg;
- sugar – 180 g.
Cooking method:
- Wash the apricots, cut them, put them in a saucepan.
- Add basil leaves to apricots, pour water.
- Wait until it boils, add lemon juice.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes over low heat.
- Cool and let it brew.
- Add sugar, boil.
- Pour into jars.
With pear
A drink with a pear-piquant taste can be a pleasant surprise for the whole family.
Ingredients:
- pears – 400 g;
- water – 3 l;
- lemon balm - 3 bunches;
- basil – 3 bunches;
- sugar – 125 g;
- citric acid – 1 whisper.
Cooking method:
- Large pear slices, add water and cook with sugar.
- Add the green leaves to the pears after 10–15 minutes.
- Continue cooking over low heat for a few more minutes.
- Pour into jars.
With cherry
The drink will have simply amazing taste. Thanks to the combination of useful elements, it will help in the fight against colds.
Ingredients:
- water – 3 l;
- basil – 1 bunch;
- cherry – 0.5 kg;
- sugar – 400 g;
- citric acid – 1 tsp.
Cooking method:
- Place basil leaves and berries in a jar.
- Pour hot water into it and leave to infuse.
- Drain the water and add citric acid and granulated sugar.
- Boil and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes.
- Pour the water back into the jar.
With gooseberries
Gooseberries contain a large amount of various vitamins, and in combination with the beneficial properties of basil, the compote becomes a vitamin bomb that will have a beneficial effect on the immune system in the winter.
Ingredients:
- gooseberries – 900 g;
- water – 3 l;
- basil – 2 bunches;
- sugar – 350 g.
Cooking method:
- Make syrup from sugar and water.
- Place berries and basil leaves in a jar.
- Pour hot syrup into the jar.
- Sterilize the jar for 30 minutes.
Terms and conditions of storage
If jars of preserves are stored underground, then it is important to ensure that there is no sunlight and the temperature does not exceed +18 °C. In winter, the cellar should not be too cold and the temperature should always be above 0 °C. Also, the quality of the workpiece can be greatly affected due to high humidity.
An ideal option for preparations in an apartment would be a dark cabinet on an insulated balcony.
Shelf life, subject to storage rules, is approximately 150 days.
