My red/purple basil has flowered can i eat it? and pesto question

[jellyjelly]

Or will it tasts off in any way and can i use sunflower oil in pesto i have no olive oil?

Can i also mix both green and red/purple basil for pesto?

I've mixed the types of basil before for pesto. I don't think it would taste quite right if you don't use olive oil mind you, might make it a bit greasy IYSWIM.

Mmm - pesto .

ok and how to i get the garlic to mellow a bit alwasy tastes so strong and then it repeats which isnt nice . Do love garlic just want it not so pungent.

Sometimes, once a plant has flowered it can taste a little bitter. Test a bit, althouh with a strong taste like basil it may not be so noticeable.

Go easy on the garlic - I always over do it and it spoils it.

how much do you normally put in?

To be honest I've never made a really successful pesto - I reckon you only need one small clove - last time I put loads of basil in with two cloves and it was still too strong. Have you got a recipe - it needs pine nuts and parmesan too. I'll see if I can find a good one.

i NEVER have cheese in the house as we dont eat it or pine nuts becasue ds cant eat them.

scroll down for the pesto bit Delia seems to go for the less garlic bit. The other recipes I looked at all had 3 cloves.

Are you Vegan? I saw a vegan pesto recipe when I googled - hang on.

They all seem to have nuts, either pine nuts or walnuts. You might have to invent a nut/cheese free version with sunflower oil and a little garlic.

No not vegan just dont like cheese and as there is only ds and myself and he doesnt eat it very little point in buying it. Will eat shop got pesto with pine nuts and parma in and happily eat it.