Recipes with basil

Fresh tomato pasta toss simmers blanched and peeled tomatoes with garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano, finished with a splash of cream over penne. A high-summer pasta sauce when tomatoes are at their peak.

Herbed focaccia, a crisp Italian flatbread with a touch of cornmeal, brushed with warm garlic-herb olive oil and showered with kosher salt. Thin and crackly, it's made for open sandwiches and freezes well.

Couscous Provencal with artichoke hearts, ripe tomato, fresh basil, and briny capers. A bright Mediterranean side that comes together in about 15 minutes using steeped (not boiled) couscous.

Herbed beef and vegetable stew braises chunks of beef in tomato, white wine, and Italian herbs, then finishes with carrots, mushrooms, green beans, and celery. A classic Sunday Dutch oven dinner.

Fruity and creamy. Italian spaghetti with lemon, olive oil with a touch of basil. Bright, lemony flavors.

Chicken saute Creole style with sieved tomatoes, green peppers, onions, garlic, and basil. Flour-dredged and browned, then simmered until fork-tender in a rich tomato sauce.

Shellfish shell marinara with littleneck clams and shrimp in a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, and garlic, served over shell pasta. A seafood pasta with real Italian soul.

Quinoa tabbouleh swaps traditional bulgur for protein-rich quinoa in a parsley-forward Lebanese salad with scallions, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Gluten-free, vegan, refreshing.

Baked salmon fillets topped with a compound pistachio basil butter melted over each serving. White wine in the pan keeps the fish moist. Ready in 20 minutes.

Baked salmon fillets topped with a compound pistachio basil butter melted over each serving. White wine in the pan keeps the fish moist. Ready in 20 minutes.

Tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (insalata caprese) with thick-sliced ripe tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil strips, and a drizzle of olive oil. Five ingredients, 15 minutes, Italian perfection.

Vegan oatburgers with mushrooms, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, and herbs. Baked until firm with a savory, meaty flavor. Makes a big batch of 20 to 25 patties.

Vegan vegetable broth made with tomato juice, soy sauce, onions, garlic, and basil. A 6-ingredient pantry-staple broth for cooking seitan, soups, or thickening into a quick mushroom-style gravy.

Kalbsbrust mit Krauterfuellung is a German stuffed veal breast filled with bacon, mushrooms, ground beef, herbs, and sour cream, then roasted and served with a creamy pan sauce.

Fresh bruschetta topping with Roma tomatoes, basil, oregano, capers, red onion, and balsamic vinegar. No-cook, vegetarian, and ready after a one-hour rest.

Pesto mushroom caps stuff fresh button mushrooms with homemade basil pesto and crown each one with a walnut half, then bake until hot and fragrant. A 10-minute vegetarian appetizer that punches way above its weight at a cocktail party.