Basil/4 recipes

Tomato, barley, and chicken soup: bone-in chicken legs simmered with pearl barley, tomatoes, carrots, and herbs into a thick, hearty bowl. A weeknight one-pot supper.

Chicken and spinach quiche with melty Swiss cheese, basil-spiked custard, and a flaky pre-baked crust. A make-ahead brunch favorite that uses leftover chicken and pantry staples.

Pizza soup with stewed tomatoes, pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, basil and oregano, topped with broiled mozzarella. All the flavor of pizza in a chunky bowl.

Basic Italian tomato sauce with peeled plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, a splash of red wine, and a knob of butter for a silky, restaurant-style red sauce in 40 minutes.

Crimini-shingled mahi mahi: fish fillets crowned with thin-sliced mushrooms seared golden, served on garlic mashed potatoes with slow-roasted tomato petals. A restaurant-style seafood plate.

Italian rice salad with green peas, scallions, ripe olives, pimentos, and fresh basil tossed in Italian dressing. Cold side dish for picnics, potlucks, and summer cookouts.

Blended red pepper pasta sauce made with sweet bell peppers, onions, garlic, and fresh basil. Oil-free, vegan, and ready in 45 minutes with vibrant color and flavor.

Ratatouille spaghetti pie turns a pressed spaghetti crust into the base for a chunky eggplant, zucchini, and pepper ratatouille, topped with pepperoni and a Parmesan-breadcrumb crust. A veg-packed pasta bake.

Bay scallops with pasta shells in a fresh tomato cream sauce made with white wine, shallots, basil, and reduced heavy cream. An elegant 45-minute seafood pasta dinner.

Spiced TVP taco filling simmered with tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, and herbs. A high-protein, plant-based meat substitute for tacos, wraps, and burritos in under 45 minutes.

This is a favorite dish of my family's, especially on holidays like Easter and Christmas. Most people cringe at the idea of eating a cow's tongue, but actually the meat is very tender, and even if you have to close your eyes and plug your nose to try it, please do. I guarantee it won't be what you expect!

Hoosier goulash made entirely in the microwave with ground beef, elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. A Midwest one-dish dinner in 20 minutes.

Easy carrot salad with shredded carrots, fresh herbs, scallions, and a bright lemon-and-safflower-oil dressing. A 15-minute vegan side that brings color and crunch to any plate.

Tomato, artichoke, and feta salad tosses marinated red onion and feta with canned artichoke hearts and ripe tomatoes in a red wine and herb vinaigrette. Classic Mediterranean summer side.

Pizza Carciofi with marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and fontina cheese over a homemade tomato sauce on crispy pizza dough.

Melanzane in carrozza: breaded Italian eggplant sandwiches stuffed with mozzarella, anchovy, and basil, then fried golden. A Southern Italian antipasto, crisp outside, molten in the middle.