Basil/8 recipes

Roasted pheasant with cinnamon, basil and a sherry vinegar pan sauce. Game-bird main course finished with a butter-mounted reduction. Restaurant-style elegance from the oven.

Summer bean and basil soup is a classic Provençal soupe au pistou. White beans, leeks, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and macaroni in a light broth, served with a fresh basil-garlic pistou sauce on top.

Bruschetta with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella relish on garlic-rubbed grilled bread. The classic Italian appetizer with a juice-drained tomato trick for crisp toasts.

A savory pasta dish that can be served by itself or with succulent meat balls or steak.

Pasta tossed with green peas, scallions, and fresh basil in a butter-vermouth sauce. A light, spring-inspired dish that comes together in 30 minutes.

One-pot whole wheat couscous with brown lentils, fresh tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan in a vegetable juice broth. A filling low-fat vegetarian dinner for two, ready in about an hour.

White pizza with chicken and basil skips the red sauce for an olive-oil-brushed crust topped with sauteed chicken, mushrooms, garlic and fresh basil under melty cheddar and Swiss. A crisp, garlicky homemade pie.

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.

Crabmeat risotto with fresh goat cheese, basil, and cream stirred into arborio rice. A luxurious Italian main dish with sweet crab folded in at the end.

Golden pan-fried lump crab cakes with chives and Dijon, served with a vibrant blanched basil mayonnaise. Triple-breaded for a shattering crisp crust outside, sweet crab inside.

Grilled swordfish steaks crowned with a compound butter made from Dijon mustard and fresh basil. Just 25 minutes and 5 ingredients for a smoky, herb-kissed seafood dinner.

Penne with cauliflower, fresh roma tomatoes, and basil tossed in a no-cook olive oil sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. A 25-minute one-pot summer pasta finished with Parmesan.

Tomato salad with basil buttermilk dressing made from two cups of fresh basil blended with buttermilk, green onions, and mayonnaise. A creamy, herb-packed summer side for peak-season ripe tomatoes.

Sardinian pasta with fresh tomato basil sauce made from plum tomatoes cooked slowly in olive oil and finished with butter. Five-ingredient Italian pasta that showcases peak summer tomatoes.

Fresh tomato basil pasta with a no-cook summer sauce: ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and garlic marinated in olive oil, then tossed with hot pasta. Light, bright, and ready in the time it takes to boil noodles.

Orange roughy with basil and peppers is a light microwave fish dinner for two: mild white fillets steamed over julienned red bell peppers and onions with fresh basil and lemon. Ready in 25 minutes with almost no fat.