Making homemade basil seasoning
🌿 DIY Basil Seasoning (Garden to Table with My Kids) 🌿
This summer, my kids and I turned our backyard basil into something special — homemade basil seasoning! ✨ We used our Ninja Air Fryer (yep, it’s not just for fries 🍟) to dry it out, and now we sprinkle it on everything from pasta to pizza. 🍕
💛 The best part? Doing it together. Watching the kids pick leaves straight from the garden and seeing their faces when they realized, “Hey, WE made this seasoning!” was such a heart-felt mama moment.
🛒 What you’ll need:
• Fresh basil leaves (from the garden 🌱)
• Ninja Air Fryer (dehydrator setting)
• A little sea salt (optional)
• Spice jar for storing ✨
🥣 How to make it:
1. Rinse and pat basil leaves dry.
2. Place leaves in the Ninja Air Fryer on dehydrate mode (about 100–110°F).
3. Let them crisp up until they crumble easily (2–4 hours depending on thickness).
4. Crush into flakes + add a pinch of salt if you like.
5. Store in a small jar + sprinkle on all your meals!
✨ Why you’ll love it:
• Zero waste + straight from your garden 🌿
• Kids get hands-on in the kitchen 👩🍳👨🍳
• Healthier + fresher than store-bought
• Makes dinner feel gourmet with just a sprinkle 🍝
#CookingWithKids 👩🍳
Making your own basil seasoning at home not only brings freshness and flavor to your dishes but also offers a creative and educational experience for the entire family. Beyond just drying basil in a Ninja Air Fryer, you can explore different herb combinations by adding oregano, thyme, or rosemary to customize your seasoning blends according to your taste preferences. The Ninja Air Fryer's dehydrate setting is ideal because it maintains low temperatures around 100–110°F, preserving the essential oils and vibrant aroma of the basil. This gentle drying process ensures that the leaves retain their natural flavor without browning or burning, which might happen with higher heat methods. An additional tip for enhancing your homemade seasoning is to lightly toast the dried basil flakes in a dry skillet for a minute or two. This can deepen the flavor and add a subtle nuttiness that elevates your dishes. Once toasted, allow the flakes to cool before storing. Storage is crucial to maintaining the seasoning's potency. Keep your basil flakes in an airtight spice jar away from direct sunlight and humidity. Properly stored, your homemade basil seasoning can last up to six months, making it a convenient staple for your kitchen. Involving kids in this process is especially rewarding; it teaches them about plant life cycles, responsibility, and healthy cooking habits. They also gain a sense of accomplishment seeing how fresh garden ingredients transform into something useful and delicious. When using your homemade basil seasoning, sprinkle it over pasta, pizzas, salads, or even roasted vegetables for an instant burst of garden-fresh flavor. Experimenting with this seasoning can inspire new recipes and foster a closer connection between the family and the food you share together.
