21 Recipes With Fresh Basil to Use Up the Vibrant Herb
Bring on the basil!
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Fresh basil is typically in season from June to September, which means you may start seeing more of the aromatic herb at the grocery store or farmer’s market. Or, perhaps you planted some basil seeds several months ago and you now have your very own basil plant. No matter how you obtain fresh basil, there’s no doubt that there are thousands of ways to put the vibrant herb to work. Sure, fresh basil works as a garnish for drinks, a bevy of pasta dishes, and homemade pizzas, but it also shines in scrumptious salads, homemade pesto sauce (which has its own litany of uses in the kitchen) and so much more.
So, whether you’ve got a surplus of basil from your garden or your latest grocery run, we’re here to show you how to use the herb before it turns into a mushy, wilted mess. Keep reading for 21 recipes that are made even tastier thanks to fresh basil!
Related: 15 Pesto Recipes That Will Add Flavor to Pasta, Soup, and More
Tortellini Basil Salad
Basil is frequently used in Italian cuisine, and it adds freshness to dishes with cheese, lemon, and garlic. Since this hearty dish calls for cheese tortellini and lemon zest, the nearly two cups of fresh basil leaves feel right at home. What we love about this recipe is that it can work as a stand-alone dinner or a side to a summery feast.
Peach Smash
Fred Hardy
Put your summer peach haul to good use and whip up this bourbon-based cocktail. Here, you’ll find fresh basil leaves and peach slices, granulated sugar, bourbon, and a splash of fresh lime juice to balance out the sweetness. If you’ve got a pool party coming up, this is the perfect drink to serve.
Caprese Mac and Cheese
Fred Hardy
This lighter take on mac and cheese is inspired by the classic Caprese salad. In this dish, as is the case with the Italian salad, you’ll find mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Since it is mac and cheese, this meal also includes orecchiette pasta, plenty of butter and milk, and a dash of Dijon mustard for just a little bit of spice.
Big Breakfast Salad
Victor Protasio
This hearty dish has all your favorite breakfast components, making it an impressive salad candidate. It features roasted potatoes sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, crunchy bagel chips, sweet cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and plenty of jammy eggs. A creamy avocado-basil dressing coats all of the ingredients and brings even more flavor.
Homemade Gnocchi
Greg DuPree
Making gnocchi from scratch is a bit of an undertaking, but it’s a skill worth mastering if you like to cook or want to become more proficient in the kitchen. Once you make, shape, and cut the dough, you’ll cook it and pair the gnocchi with a homemade (or store-bought) basil pesto sauce and as much Parmesan cheese as you like.
Slow-Cooker Beef and Noodle Curry
Fred Hardy
If you're a curry fan, you're bound to love this slow cooker recipe. Along with the curry paste which naturally holds lots of flavor, the dish is made palatable with complementary ingredients such as lime juice, coconut milk, ginger, and basil. With only twenty minutes of prep and ten ingredients, this is a low-effort dinner option that just might make its way into your rotation.
Zucchini Pesto Pasta
The backbone of the hearty pesto sauce used here is shredded zucchini and roasted, salted cashews. You’ll also find more typical pesto ingredients such as basil, Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Obviously you’ll also find spaghetti, as well as a dollop of creamy ricotta cheese, which complete the meal.
Farro and Squash Salad
Victor Protasio
This easy and elegant grain and grilled squash salad is a seasonal stunner. It makes great use of summer's bounty—yellow squash, zucchini, and fresh basil—and looks impressive on a dinner table. You’ll also find nutty farro, of course, as well as Parmesan cheese and Marcona almonds all coated in a white balsamic-based dressing. The result is a balanced dish that’s worth making more than once.
Pesto Egg Salad Toasts
CAITLIN BENSEL
This elevated take on egg salad, which takes just 25 minutes to make, features a simple stir-together basil pesto and plenty of peppery arugula. You’ll also top each piece of toast with more basil and a sprinkle of freshly grated cheese. To make your process even easier, prep the egg salad and pesto the night before.
Related: 9 Eye-Opening Inaccuracies You Probably Believe About Eating Eggs
Cornbread Panzanella
This take on panzanella is made with golden cornbread croutons that are tossed with a mix of juicy heirloom and cherry tomatoes, zippy red onion, crisp cucumber, and chunks of creamy avocado. You’ll also find delicious mozzarella balls, as well as thinly sliced basil for freshness. This salad is a summer staple, but works any time of the year so long as you can find juicy tomatoes.
Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs
This summer salad pairs juicy corn kernels with a showering of fresh herbs—basil, chives, and dill—plus some caramelized onions for good measure, resulting in a mouthwatering savory-sweet combo. Serve this dish alongside grilled fish, rotisserie chicken, or a seared steak for a complete meal.
Shrimp and Basil Stir-Fry
For this 15-minute stir-fry, a sauce made of pantry staples—soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar—brings plenty of flavor to shrimp, fresh basil leaves, and plenty of white rice. Add some acidity to the mix with a squirt of fresh lime juice before serving.
Spring Minestrone
While some soups need to simmer for hours, this one is ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish. Here, some of spring’s finest produce, including lemon, basil, crisp green beans, and silky Swiss chard, are joined by toothsome ditalini pasta, leeks, and celery for a comforting meal. Opt for high-quality store-bought broth for this easy dish, or make your own.
Green Risotto With Pistachio Pesto
The key to this recipe is the bright green pesto, which ties the whole dish together. Here, while the risotto cooks you’ll make said quick pesto sauce using parsley, basil leaves, spinach, and pistachios. By preparing the pesto while the risotto is cooking, you’ll ensure that the herbs and spinach in the sauce stay vibrant, instead of becoming muddied from a long cook time.
Neapolitan-Style Margherita Pizza
Adding some chopped, fresh basil to a pizza pie (take-out or homemade) is an easy way to elevate the Italian classic. Basil works on just about any pizza, but we’re particularly fond of it on top of this classic one. Why? This pie is made with a simple trio of toppings—crushed tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh mozzarella cheese—that pair well with basil and also manage to let the herb shine.
Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches
Pesto-tossed chicken is the heart of these filled flatbread sandwiches, and the pesto here is homemade, which calls for plenty of basil. Each flatbread sandwich is also packed to the brim with fresh mozzarella and baby arugula to complete the 40-minute meal.
Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing
Since basil can be blended into pesto, it’s no surprise that it can be blended into other condiments as well. This spaghetti recipe proves that basil thrives in a dressing, especially when it’s combined with ingredients such as creamy avocado, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and tart apple cider vinegar.
Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze
These Caprese skewers call for just five minutes of your time, and don’t even require you to turn on the stove or the oven. Instead, you’ll pair juicy, ripe tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and basil and call it a day. To jazz up these skewers, feel free to top em’ with balsamic vinegar, homemade pesto, or an even simpler combination of olive oil and flaky sea salt.
Related: 22 Summer Appetizers That Are Perfect For the Warmer Weather
Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce
No matter what the occasion is, you can’t go wrong with pasta and tomato sauce. This version calls for a sauce made with salty pancetta, fresh cherry tomatoes, and garlic. Mash a few of the tomatoes as they cook to make things extra-saucy, and garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan and basil before serving.
Steak Stir-Fry With Snap Peas, Bok Choy, and Basil
This 30-minute steak stir-fry is chock-full of flavor without needing hours to develop. Baby bok choy, crispy sugar snap peas, and bright red chilis pair with flank steak for the perfect combination of veggies and protein. Sweet and salty brown sugar and soy sauce, scallions, and basil tie the whole dish together.
Linguine With Broccoli Mint Pesto
Greg DuPree
This vibrant pesto pasta recipe uses a full cup of basil for the sauce—and flips it on its head with the addition of broccoli florets to add heartiness. A handful of mint also goes in the pesto, which brings freshness to balance out the bulk of the broccoli and the saltiness of the Parmesan. Don't have linguine? Substitute any pasta you like—the dish will still be pesto perfection!
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