Basil/4 recipes

Hearty smoky lentil soup simmered with a ham hock, Roma tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and Italian herbs. A thick, stick-to-your-ribs bowl that's built for cold weather.

Stovetop chicken lasagna layered with ground chicken, cottage cheese, egg noodles, and crushed tomatoes in one skillet. All the lasagna flavor without the oven or the wait.

Homemade soy burgers with cooked soybeans, brown rice, ground sesame seeds, and whole wheat flour. A hearty plant-based patty you can griddle, bake, or freeze.

This is really a tasty recipe, I have introduced it to many friends, because once they tasted it, they always ask me for this recipe!

These eggplant patties are golden brown on the outside; soft, warm and delicious in the inside. Feel free to adjust the seasoning, if you like spicier, add more hot chili pepper; if you prefer more garlicky, add a few more cloves of garlic. These patties are delicious enough to be served directly, or make a creamy sauce with yogurt or sour cream.

I make this chicken and roast beef muffulettas very often. Last year for super bowl, they were even not enough. My friends kept asking me for more of these sandwiches...

Fall off the bone lamb with sweet capsicum (bell pepper) and tomatoes. Stand a shank on top of a 'mountain' of garlic mash potato in a bowl; ladle bell peppers and soupy stock all around. Mop up with crusty bread

This challah is not just bread, but also stuffed with spinach, ricotta, herbs and pine nuts, which gives the challah amazingly delicious filling and flavor.

A great dip that is creamy yet refreshing. Served best chilled.

Quick microwave chicken pasta primavera loaded with broccoli and carrots, tossed in a creamy ranch-parmesan sauce over fettuccine. Dinner on the table in under 10 minutes.

Chunky sweet potato soup loaded with carrots, celery, peas, and herbs, finished with nonfat sour cream and skim milk. A big-batch comfort soup that serves 16 and feels lighter than it tastes.

H. Allen Smith's legendary no-bean chili: 4 pounds of coarse-ground sirloin simmered for 3 hours with dried hot chilis, Mexican oregano, and cumin. Pure Texas-style chili, the way the purists intended.

Handmade ricotta and spinach stuffed pasta squares folded into triangles, baked in a fresh Roma tomato basil sauce with Parmesan. A hearty Italian main dish worth every minute of rolling.

Chunky minestrone loaded with red potatoes, white beans, barley, corn, and peas in a crushed tomato broth with leeks and basil. Makes a full gallon for big batch meal prep.

Whole artichokes stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta, fresh basil, and garlic, then braised in a Dutch oven until tender. A showstopping vegetarian side dish that's worth every minute.

A cold seven bean and barley salad tossed with creamy avocado, cucumber, pimentos, and a simple herb vinaigrette. High-protein, plant-based, and served chilled.