Basil/9 recipes

Chilled penne pasta salad with julienned carrots, zucchini, green onions, and fresh basil in a light sesame-cream dressing. A vibrant make-ahead side dish.

Eggplant with tofu stir-fries thinly sliced Japanese eggplant and silky tofu cubes with garlic, fresh chiles, basil, and salty yellow bean sauce. A Thai-style 30-minute vegetarian main.

Quick orzo salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil in a simple red wine vinaigrette. A 15-minute side dish that shines warm or cold, perfect for picnics and weeknights.

Spicy jalapeno pesto with fresh basil, parsley, pine nuts, and garlic. A no-cook, no-cheese pesto with a kick of green heat that's ready in 5 minutes flat.

Classic French ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, green pepper, and basil. The Provençal vegetable stew served hot or cold, a vegan summer-garden essential.

Pesto pie with a ricotta-egg custard base swirled with homemade basil-walnut pesto and Parmesan. A savory crustless pie that bakes firm and slices clean, perfect for brunch or a light dinner.

Open-faced pesto, tomato, and melted cheese sandwich on a roll, broiled until bubbly. Five-minute lunch with bright basil pesto and gooey cheese.

Diabetic-friendly cottage cheese vegetable casserole with egg noodles, carrots, mushrooms, basil, and thyme. A low-fat, high-protein noodle bake using 1% cottage cheese and skim milk.

Pan-seared venison steaks with butter, fennel, garlic salt, and basil. A 15-minute hunter's skillet recipe for tender deer steaks cooked medium-rare in a hot pan.

Try something new for lunch with this scrumptious dish that's so easy to make, a caveman can do it!

Italian-style zucchini with butter, olive oil, basil, oregano, and parsley. A quick microwave side dish that keeps the zucchini crisp-tender in 20 minutes.

Dried tomato salad dressing made by soaking sun-dried tomatoes in red wine vinegar with basil, thyme, and rosemary in olive oil. No cooking needed, just 6-12 hours to marinate.

Salt-free seasoning blend with garlic powder, basil, star anise, oregano, and lemon zest. A homemade spice mix for low-sodium cooking that adds real flavor without the salt.

A classic combination of fine herbs for general purpose use.

Skin-on chicken quarters baked with artichoke hearts in a herbed sherry and tomato sauce. One pan, one hour, and the whole kitchen smells like a Mediterranean bistro. Serves 4 to 5.

Homemade herb yogurt cheese strained with thyme, basil, and pepper. A low-fat spread for crackers or baked potatoes that keeps for two weeks in the fridge.