Basil/8 recipes

Light spaghetti sauce with tomato sauce, garlic, green bell pepper, red wine, basil, and oregano ready in 20 minutes. A quick, low-fat meatless marinara for weeknight pasta.

Fast creamy spaghetti sauce with sauteed onions and garlic simmered in tomato sauce and red wine with green bell pepper, basil, and oregano. Ready in 30 minutes.

Savory green beans with mushrooms, basil, and lemon juice cooked entirely in the microwave. A quick, no-fuss vegetable side dish ready in under 20 minutes.

German-style tomato salad with a tangy vinegar, oil, and Worcestershire dressing seasoned with basil and thyme. Chilled and served on lettuce leaves.

Fava bean and tiny pasta salad with blanched carrots, chives, and a red wine vinegar-basil dressing. A light, marinated vegan side served at room temperature.

Milanese vegetable soup: a light northern Italian broth with diced eggplant, zucchini, celery, carrot, Swiss chard, and bacon, finished with fresh basil. Clean, clear, and summery.

Garbanzo bean pizza with a gluten-free chickpea puree crust topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Italian herbs. High-protein, grain-free, and surprisingly crispy.

Couscous Provencal with artichoke hearts, ripe tomato, fresh basil, and briny capers. A bright Mediterranean side that comes together in about 15 minutes using steeped (not boiled) couscous.

Easy pesto pasta tossed with prepared basil pesto, fresh Parmesan, and toasted pine nuts. A 4-ingredient pasta dinner ready in the time it takes to boil water.

Tomato cups marinate fresh tomatoes, green pepper strips, and onion rings in oregano-basil vinaigrette. A simple Italian-style summer salad you toss together in 10 minutes.

Light cream of mushroom soup with skim evaporated milk and white wine. Skips the heavy cream but keeps the silky texture, with deep mushroom flavor from a 30-minute simmer.

Home-improved tomato sauce doctors canned tomato sauce with sauteed onion, garlic, and fresh herbs. Tastes like scratch-made in 30 minutes.

Pork spiedis from upstate New York: cubed pork tenderloin marinated overnight in tomato juice, garlic, onion, and herbs, then grilled and served wrapped in Italian bread.

Pesto mushroom caps stuff fresh button mushrooms with homemade basil pesto and crown each one with a walnut half, then bake until hot and fragrant. A 10-minute vegetarian appetizer that punches way above its weight at a cocktail party.

Marachichi pasta with anchovies, black and green olives, tomato, and a heavy hand of Italian herbs. Sicilian-style puttanesca riff with bold, salty Mediterranean flavor.

Santa Maria runner bean stew with garlic, tomatoes, basil, and a splash of olive oil. A simple Mediterranean-style vegetable stew that holds up hot or cold.