Cooking with Aphrodisiacs: Basil

By Terry Dagrosa, SeductionMeals.com

Looking for an easy way to stir up flames of desire? Try cooking with aphrodisiacs. Each month we'll explore a new aphrodisiac to see which works best for you and your partner. We start with basil and a simple pasta dish:  penne with basil, tomato and ricotta. And to  turn up the heat, let's add another aphrodisiac--a pinch of red hot pepper flakes.



If you are looking for a simple way to boost your sex life, apparently Basil is the trick. Reputed to stimulate one's sex drive and increase fertility, basil has been favored as an aphrodisiac for centuries. And like Cleopatra and Cassanova, masters of seduction, be sure to set the tone of the night by whispering a tale or two of the amorous affects that basil is known to evoke, as you pour each other a glass of wine and enjoy this simply sumptuous meal.

penne with basil, tomato and ricotta
serves 4

• 1 box of your favorite penne pasta
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/8 cup of shredded fresh basil
• 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/8 cup of olive oil
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes left whole
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed

• small brick of ricotta cheese, sliced and crumbled
• red pepper flakes

 

1. Cook pasta al dente, according to directions on the package. Drain when done and place in a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, oregano, Parmesan cheese,and salt and pepper to taste. Be careful not to add too much salt as the cheese can be salty. Tip: Always use fresh Parmesan, nothing in a can--you want to use a brick and grate it just before using..

2. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet making sure there is enough to cover the bottom. If your skillet is exceptionally large you may need a little more oil. When hot, add the cherry tomatoes and saute for a minute or two. Add the garlic over the tomatoes and cook for another minute. Carefully stir the tomatoes so garlic is mixed in to the oil. In another minute or two, when the tomato skin start to wrinkle, they are almost done--you want to keep them in long enough so the skin starts to slightly char. If you need to, add a bit more olive oil to the pan (you want about 1/8 cup of garlic infused oil to add to the pasta).

3. Remove the tomatoes from the heat. And pour tomatoes/olive oil over the pasta, gently tossing ingredients together.

4. Place the pasta on two plates. Top with the remaining chopped basil, a dash of red pepper flakes, and some fresh grated parmesan cheese.

5. Bring you plates to a table