Basil/8 recipes

Bread Provencale is a Provençal stuffed baguette filled with sausage, tomatoes, olives, capers, and basil, then chilled overnight and sliced into rounds. A make-ahead picnic classic from the South of France.

Chilled pappa al pomodoro with crab meat crostini, a Tuscan bread-and-tomato soup served cold with a lemony crab-topped baguette float. An elegant no-cook summer appetizer that turns stale bread into something special.

Easy Italian mushroom spaghetti sauce built from fresh roma tomatoes, tomato paste, and four herbs, simmered with plenty of mushrooms. Vegetarian as-is, or add meatballs or browned beef.

Vegetarian gumbo with black-eyed peas, okra, corn, tomatoes, and the holy trinity in a homemade vegetable stock. A plant-based bayou bowl ready to ladle over cornbread.

Cajun crawfish fettuccine in a rich cream sauce with onion, celery, scallions, and a kick of cayenne. A Louisiana-style pasta dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Spinach and fresh fruit salad with strawberries, blueberries, avocado, brie, and walnuts in a bright lemon-basil vinaigrette. A no-cook 10-minute summer salad that eats like a full meal.

Chicken and noodle cacciatore with a whole stewing hen simmered until tender, then baked over wide noodles in a tomato-olive-mushroom sauce.

Linguine with Mussels Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Olives recipe

Smoked mozzarella focaccia topping with cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and garlic. Italian bruschetta-style appetizer ready in under 20 minutes.

Easy lasagna made with a Bisquick batter instead of noodles, layered with ground beef, spaghetti sauce, zucchini, cottage cheese, and melted mozzarella. Feeds 15 in under an hour.

Thai-style red curry pork stir-fry with green beans, mushrooms, red pepper, and fresh basil. A quick weeknight wok dinner with fish sauce and red curry paste.

Roasted langoustines on mesquite-charred bell peppers with wilted arugula, blanched French green beans and aged balsamic. Quick-seared shellfish that hits the plate in 60 seconds total.

Herbed lentils and brown rice baked in broth with white wine, basil, oregano, and thyme, topped with melted Swiss cheese. A one-casserole vegetarian main or hearty side dish.

Italian-style sole fillets steamed over sauteed mushrooms and vegetables with tomato slices and melted Parmesan. A one-skillet fish dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Crock pot balsamic chicken, spice-rubbed thighs slow-cooked in balsamic vinegar and garlic until fall-apart tender. A tangy-sweet, dump-and-go dinner with almost no hands-on time.

Light shrimp spaghetti in a white wine and tomato sauce with garlic, basil, and oregano. Low-fat weeknight pasta with bright, clean flavors.