Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 4 hours
Basil may sound like an unusual combination with strawberries, but its mild herbal essence not only brightens the flavor of the berries, but it makes them taste even more luscious. If you think your kids won't like the basil, feel free to leave it out, but mine don't mind it one bit. In fact, these frozen pops are loved by both the kids and adults in the family! If your child is sensitive to dairy or you desire a more intense strawberry flavor, just omit the yogurt.
by Alison Needham
What you'll need
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons slivered fresh basil leaves
- 1 pound strawberries, stems removed and cut in half
- 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Notes:
Yield: 1 dozen small popsicles or 3 1/2 cups puree.
How to make it
- Place sugar, water and basil in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring continuously, until sugar dissolves, which takes about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let the basil infuse the syrup for 5-10 minutes, depending on how much basil flavor you desire.
- Strain syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a blender and discard basil. Add the strawberries and yogurt to the blender and pulse until smooth.
- Pour into pop molds, and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Insert sticks and return to freezer until completely firm, about 3 1/2 hours more. Any leftover puree makes a great smoothie!
