Basil/14 recipes

Individual chicken and vegetable casseroles with zucchini, tomato, olives, and basil baked under a chicken breast in personal-sized dishes. A light, low-calorie Mediterranean-style dinner for two.

My family's go to pasta sauce. It is great on spaghetti or folded into mostaccoli.

Brie quesadillas with jalapeño-plum salsa bring creamy, buttery cheese together with sweet-tart stone fruit and a kick of chili. A 30-minute appetizer that punches way above its weight class.

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.

Light fish pasta sauce with turbot, tomatoes, lemon zest, and fresh herbs simmered in fish stock and olive oil. A bright Mediterranean seafood sauce tossed with hot pasta.

Artichoke and red pepper pizza on a par-baked crust with a roasted garlic-olive oil base, mushrooms, olives, basil, mozzarella, and Parmesan. No red sauce needed.

Roasted red pepper pasta tosses pasta wheels with charred bell peppers, chickpeas, scallions, fresh basil, tarragon, and capers. No-oil low-fat vegan main with bold Mediterranean flavor.

Butter-seared shrimp served over a pool of emulsified green onion and basil butter sauce made with champagne vinegar and chicken stock. A refined, restaurant-quality plate ready in 30 minutes.

Bread machine focaccia topped with olives, rosemary, garlic, basil, and feta or Parmesan. Easy homemade Italian flatbread that bakes in 10 minutes flat.

Three-ingredient pesto hummus made with chickpeas, fresh basil, and lemon juice. Bright green Mediterranean dip or sandwich spread that comes together in 10 minutes.

Make this tortilla pizza for a quick yet delicious lunch or supper. It's spread with basil pesto, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, topped with broccoli, green bell pepper, mushrooms, onions and sun-dried tomato. Much lower calories and fat, but still tastes yummy.

Tomato herb bruschetta with fresh Roma tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, and balsamic vinegar on toasted crusty bread. A classic Italian appetizer ready in 10 minutes, no cooking required.

Broiled scampi marinated in olive oil, white wine, lemon juice, and fish stock with fresh basil and oregano. Butterflied prawns cooked golden in 10 minutes flat.

Classic pizza Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan baked on a pizza stone at high heat. Thin crust, six ingredients, and ready in under 10 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.

Strawberry mozzarella salad with romaine, balsamic vinaigrette, and fresh basil ribbons. A summery riff on caprese that trades tomatoes for ripe berries and comes together in 10 minutes.