When making Basil Chicken Wraps, double the basil dressing recipe and keep the extra on hand to toss with hot cooked pasta or whole grains, or use it to dress a hearty romaine salad. Serves 6.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 3 tbsp grated fresh Parmiagiano-Reggiano cheese
- 3 tbsp toasted pine nuts
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken, chopped into bit-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 (8-inch) whole-wheat tortillas
Instructions
- Combine basil, buttermilk, cheese, nuts, and salt in a blender; process until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add oil through the food chute, followed by the lemon juice and process until smooth.
- Place the chicken in a medium bowl.
- Pour basil dressing over the chicken, tossing to combine. Stir in tomatoes.
- Divide chicken mixture among tortillas. Roll up each tortilla and wrap individually in parchment paper; halve crosswise, if desired.
Featured Ingredient: Sweet Basil
Basil is most commonly paired with tomatoes, and in the summertime, there isn't much that can beat a fresh tomato slice with minced basil. Yet basil complements a wide variety of delicious foods. Sweet basil is very aromatic, with a flavor that is sweeter than that of other varieties, and has just a hint of pepper and mint. It's a great variety to have on hand for a wide array of uses, so it's an excellent herb to grow yourself. Not only will doing so be more cost-effective than buying it at the grocery store, but you'll be able to pick just the amount you want when you need it. Basil can be grown in a small pot on a windowsill inside for several months. For more abundant harvests and variety, grow a few different types of it in a container or garden bed outside. Basil is a warm weather plant, but it also stores nicely when pureed with water or oil (or turned into pesto), then frozen. For the fullest flavor when using in a hot dish, add fresh basil within the last 5 or 10 minutes of cooking time. Learn how easy it is to grow your own basil!Article by Julianna K. Grimes, owner of Black Sheep Kitchen in Birmingham, AL.