Basil/9 recipes

Spinach and feta filo pie: wilted spinach and a lemony egg-feta-Cheddar filling baked under crisp, oil-brushed layers of filo with toasted pine nuts and a hint of cayenne. A Jamie Oliver classic.

A layered baked spaghetti casserole with crumbled tofu, cottage cheese, and melty mozzarella in a herb-tomato sauce. The surprise? It's vegetarian and nobody will guess.

Sauteed chicken breasts topped with marinated artichoke hearts, red bell pepper, onion, and fresh basil in a white wine pan sauce. Light, bright, and ready in 40 minutes.

Thai stir-fried beef with holy basil (pad gra pao) made with flank steak, serrano chilies, garlic, fish sauce, and fresh basil over lettuce. An authentic Thai street food dish with serious heat.

Vegetarian Mexican stuffed peppers filled with brown rice, black beans, cumin, and chili powder, baked in a tomato sauce. A hearty plant-based main dish with warm Southwestern spices.

Vegetarian barley and bean soup with kidney beans, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes in a basil-oregano broth. A filling one-pot meal packed with fiber and protein.

Roman Holiday Soup: a low-fat Italian minestrone with white beans, green beans, macaroni, and a tomato-garlic-basil swirl stirred in at the end. Ready in 40 minutes, topped with Parmesan.

Slow cooker vegetable fettuccine with zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots tossed in a creamy Parmesan-mozzarella sauce. A vegetarian crockpot pasta that does the work while you're out.

Lobster or shrimp fra diavolo in a spicy tomato sauce with red wine, hot peppers, garlic, and fresh herbs, tossed with pasta. Italian-American seafood at its boldest.

Low-fat pasta sauce with Italian white beans, tomatoes, ham, and fresh herbs simmered in reduced chicken broth. Spooned over your favorite pasta shape.

Kosher Creole seafood gumbo built on the holy trinity of onion, pepper and garlic, simmered with tomatoes, okra and tender fish fillets over rice. A shellfish-free gumbo that freezes beautifully.

Slow-simmered marinara sauce with roasted garlic, anchovies, Italian plum tomatoes, and a strip of lemon peel for depth. Rich, savory, and worth the wait.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, Parmesan, and egg, baked in a homemade basil tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella. Classic Italian comfort food.

Jumbo homemade ravioli with fresh basil-infused pasta dough and a ground veal filling. Giant 4-inch squares served with homemade tomato sauce. A from-scratch Italian pasta project worth the effort.

Amateur lasagna: an easy vegetarian spinach lasagna with uncooked noodles, ricotta-mozzarella filling, and jarred sauce. No pre-boiling needed, just layer and bake.

Sausages Mediterranean style, a fast one-pan skillet of browned sausage with kidney beans, tomatoes, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives. A hearty, sun-drenched supper over pasta or with crusty bread.