How To: Chop Basil
By Anthony Todd in Food on Jan 27, 2010 7:00PM
Sometimes, it's the simplest things that require a little bit of instruction. Even experienced cooks can be flummoxed by small tasks, and almost everyone has a kitchen "pet peeve;" some task that they avoid or try to pass on to someone else. For a long time, chopping basil was one of ours. It seemed like we were just pounding our knife against the cutting board with practically no results. Occasionally, a watery green line would appear on the leaf and once in a while it would come apart, probably from sheer exhaustion or boredom.
This technique makes chopping up herbs quick and easy. Stack the leaves into a neat pile, roll them up into a tube, and run your knife through as if you were chopping a carrot. Voila, a neat pile of shredded basil, ready for cooking or garnishing.