Cooking for Zo

Taste Level: VG
Cost: $20 and under
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10-15 min.
Cook Time: 0 min.
Difficulty: 1

These tasty little treats were so that I could try out more than one idea for the same ingredients during the same meal.  While I was creating my "Bacon of the Sea" sandwich I could not decide if I wanted to add basil, red bell pepper and shallots to the spread or not.  So I went ahead and created a nice little appetizer to go with the sandwiches that would mirror the sandwich recipe but with all of my separate ideas.  In the end both tasted really great and I only had to tweak each recipe a tiny bit to get them both perfect!  I hope you enjoy these Stuffed basil leaves!

*This is actually my second version of these.  My first version I felt something was a little off.  So I went back to the drawing board and rebalanced some of the stronger flavors.  Viola!  Success says our taste-buds!*

Ingredients
Basil Leaves
12 large fresh basil leaves 14 basil leaves
2-3 oz Smoked Salmon (sliced into 12 evenly sized pieces)

Optional Garnishing
2 tsp baby dill (minced)
Sriracha Sauce

Stuffing
1/2 of a lemons freshly squeezed juice
1/4 cup sour cream
1 shallot (diced)
3 tbsp red bell pepper (diced)
1 tbsp fresh crack pepper
1/4 cup 2 tbsp of lite mayonnaise (I use Home Best)

Stuffing
Mix all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until even.

Stuffed Basil Leaves
Spread out all of the basil leaves on a cutting board, bottom of the leave up.  Place a piece of the smoked salmon onto the middle of each basil leaves and then dollop a tablespoon of the spread over each piece of salmon. 

For optional garnish: At the end of each leaf by the stem squeeze about 1/16 of a teaspoon of sriracha. Finally sprinkle a little baby dill over each stuffed basil leave and Enjoy!