Recipes With Basil: 7 Easy Recipes Featuring Basil

Basil is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), along with oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Also known as Ocimum basilicum, basil is notable for its glossy, deep-green color and oblong, pointed leaves.

Growers harvest the aromatic leaves of the basil plant for various culinary uses: It’s a popular garnish for pizzas, salads, avocado toast, and chicken dishes. Home cooks blend basil leaves into pesto sauce to make pesto pasta, pesto paninis, and pesto pizza.

The smell of basil is similar to licorice or cinnamon; different varieties have distinct scents and flavors. Thai basil has a distinctive licorice-like aroma, whereas its cousin, Italian basil (also known as Genovese basil), has a sweet, clove-like scent.

Home-grown basil plants grow steadily, and home growers will often find themselves with an excess of fresh basil leaves. Luckily, you can use this popular herb in various Mediterranean and Asian dishes, ranging from creamy sauces to light herbaceous salads and spicy curries.

Use basil to make an Italian pesto sauce to dress a pizza, pasta, or sandwiches. Mince leftover basil leaves to make a fresh lemon-basil butter or basil vinaigrette. Blend minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, basil leaves, and butter in your food processor to make a zesty spread to flavor paninis and toast. Alternatively, make a tangy basil salad dressing by combining fresh lemon juice, olive oil, black pepper, and basil leaves.

To extend the shelf life of fresh basil, chop up the leaves and freeze them in ice cube trays filled with water or stock for future use. Once solidified, freeze the basil cubes in freezer bags to free up your ice cube trays. Store dried basil in an airtight container for up to six months.

Here are some of the most versatile basil recipes you can make at home.

1. 1. Caprese salad: Caprese salad—named after the Capri region in Italy—is a refreshing, summery salad recipe combining tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves. Fresh basil adds color and freshness to this delicate tomato salad. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar over your Caprese salad to bring some acidity and extra richness to the dish.
2. 2. Pesto sauce: True Genovese basil pesto recipes combine and pound fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and cheese into a thick, green paste. You can serve basil pesto with many Italian dishes. Combine pesto sauce with tagliatelle and burrata for a decadent pasta dish, or mix cool orzo or penne pasta with asparagus for a pesto pasta salad. Alternatively, use the sauce as a chicken marinade or veggie dip.
3. 3. Roasted eggplant with basil and feta: Cook eggplant down into a rich, succulent braised dish and serve it with fresh basil and creamy feta. This gluten-free, vegetarian eggplant dish builds on the eggplant flavor of caramelized onions, fresh ginger, puréed tomatoes, and basil. Serve the roasted eggplant with basil and feta on warm toast as a main dish or as a side dish alongside meat or lamb.
4. 4. Thai basil chicken: Crispy Thai basil chicken is a street food staple in Thailand. Seasoned with garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Thai chilies, home cooks stir-fry this savory, spicy chicken dish in a searing wok. Cooks add basil at the very end of the cooking process, so the leaves wilt slightly without overcooking. Chefs usually serve Thai basil chicken with white rice and a fried egg; however, you can also enjoy this dish on its own.
5. 5. Vegetable basil frittata: A frittata is an Italian open-faced omelet featuring a mixture of eggs and dairy to highlight a variety of other ingredients like meat, cheese, and vegetables. For a healthy breakfast meal, mix cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves into your vegetable basil frittata and serve it alongside whole-grain toast. Add meat, such as bacon, sausage, or chorizo, and cheese to amp up the protein.
6. 6. Vegan tomato basil soup: Creamy tomato basil soup is classic comfort food for a cold, rainy day. Basil leaves add a burst of fresh flavor to this creamy tomato-based soup. To make vegan tomato basil soup, simply use non-dairy milk, such as coconut, cashew, or almond milk, as a substitute for cow’s milk.
7. 7. White basil pizza: For a satisfying weeknight dinner, make a homemade white pizza with fresh vegetables and basil. White pizza is a simple dish that forgoes the typical tomato sauce for a velvety white sauce. Top fresh pizza dough with any leftover veggies like shaved zucchini and asparagus. Fresh ricotta cheese pairs well together for this white veggie pizza. Drizzle olive oil and fresh basil leaves on top, or make a garlic-basil blend for a non-marinara pizza sauce. For extra flavor, sprinkle black pepper and Parmesan cheese before serving.

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