Basil/9 recipes

Italian Easter pie with layers of ricotta, mozzarella, smoked ham, spinach, sweet red peppers and fresh basil between two flaky pie crusts. A hearty holiday centerpiece served warm or room temperature.

Crispy baked polenta triangles topped with roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and Parmesan. A light, low-fat Italian appetizer with golden crunch and creamy center.

Grilled lamb rib chops served with homemade red pepper pesto made from charred bell peppers, fresh basil, Parmesan, and garlic. A smoky, herbaceous summer grill recipe.

A nice vegetatrian recipe, nice flavor and very healthy. Everyone loves it.

Creamy seafood tetrazzini with crab and shrimp in a white wine, clam juice, and Parmesan sauce tossed with vermicelli and baked until bubbly and golden.

A homemade pepper and mushroom pizza on a from-scratch yeast crust, spread with a creamy blended cottage cheese and Parmesan sauce instead of red sauce, then loaded with mozzarella. A lighter, veggie-packed pie.

Vegetarian lentil hazelnut loaf with romano cheese and basil, topped with a fresh red pepper tomato sauce. A satisfying meatless main with serious flavor depth.

Bean and tomato salad tossed with a honey-cider vinaigrette, crisp-tender green beans, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. A vegetarian summer side that gets better as it marinates in the fridge.

Savory crustless eggplant quiche loaded with tomatoes, mushrooms, Italian herbs, and two cheeses. A hearty vegetarian main dish that's lighter than it looks.

Green lentil soup with crushed tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and grated onion simmered for 2 1/2 hours. A splash of red vinegar at the end lifts the whole pot. Hearty, vegetarian, and deeply flavored.

Stracci pasta tossed with eight fresh herbs, extra-virgin olive oil, Romano cheese, and chopped tomatoes. An Italian herb pasta where the uncooked herb sauce is the star.

Leftover turkey potato pot pie tops a creamy filling of turkey, mushrooms, mixed veggies, and cheddar with mashed potatoes instead of pastry. Quick Thanksgiving rescue meal, broiled until golden.

Pasta with chicken, tomato, and Romano cheese ready in 40 minutes. Spaghetti tossed with chicken strips, fresh tomatoes, olives, green pepper, and broth reduced into a light savory sauce.

Mediterranean stir-fry with angel hair pasta tosses eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, and artichoke hearts in a basil-tomato sauce, served over crisped sesame-oil angel hair. A healthy, fast vegetarian dinner.

Rice casserole with brussels sprouts and red bell pepper, bound with egg and creme fraiche, topped with melted Leerdammer cheese, and finished with a spicy honey-sambal cashew garnish. A European-style vegetarian one-dish meal.

Pasta alla Genovese with pesto, blanched green beans, Yukon gold potatoes, toasted walnuts, and Parmesan. The classic Ligurian pasta dish that proves carbs and vegetables together is genius.