Basil recipes

Italian-style party meatballs with Parmesan and rolled oats simmered in a homemade tomato-oregano-basil sauce. Serve in a chafing dish for easy entertaining and cocktail parties.

Roasted vegetable sandwich on French baguette with eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and red pepper. Lemon-basil yogurt spread, peppery watercress. Vegetarian lunch.

Jumbo pasta shells packed with ricotta, mozzarella, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, and fresh basil, baked in chunky spaghetti sauce until bubbly. Vegetarian comfort food.

Rich smoked salmon quiche with goat cheese, cream cheese, and Parmesan in a flaky pie crust, finished with fresh basil. A triple-cheese brunch centrepiece for 6.

Spicy penne pasta tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed red chile, oil-cured black olives, fresh basil, parsley, and Parmesan in a no-cook olive oil sauce.

Stir-fried sirloin strips tossed with bow-tie pasta, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan. This 1993 National Beef Cook-Off recipe is a 30-minute weeknight winner.

Baked sole or cod filets topped with sauteed zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes in a sherry-basil sauce with Parmesan. A light, complete one-pan fish dinner.

Sirloin steak with asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and bow-tie pasta in a basil-tomato broth topped with Parmesan. A light, high-protein skillet dinner ready in just 20 minutes.

Eggplant, mushrooms, asparagus, and red bell pepper simmered in a spicy Thai chili paste and rice milk sauce with fresh basil. A hearty vegan stew for rice or grilled polenta.

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.

30-minute Thai red curry chicken simmered in rich coconut milk with mushrooms, bell peppers, and fresh basil. Served over rice, this weeknight dinner brings bold Southeast Asian flavor home fast.

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.

A lighter twist on classic chili using ground veal simmered with tomatoes, kidney beans, jalapeno, and a blend of chili powder, basil, and oregano. This easy ground veal chili recipe is ready in 45 minutes and finishes with white wine and fresh lemon juice.

This is an old Ruthenian peasant dish, very popular in the Carpathian Alps, as well as here in Fair Oaks, CA. Great for warming the tummy on a cold winter day. This is easy to prepare, and good as a luncheon dish served with salad, or as a first course soup prior to a lighter entree.