Basil recipes

Wine-poached chicken tossed with rigatoni, fresh basil, sweet red peppers, and olives in a bright garlic-lemon dressing. A chilled Italian pasta salad built for hot summer nights.

Cheese tortelloni tossed with stir-fried cabbage, red, yellow, and green bell peppers in olive oil with basil. A colorful vegetarian pasta dinner that comes together in one hour.

Gulf-style shrimp and crab spaghetti simmered in a rich tomato sauce with chili powder, basil, butter, and garlic. Whole crabs in the sauce make this a messy, hands-on feast.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

Vibrant broccoli and zucchini saute with green onions, basil, and soy sauce. Serve hot or cold on a bed of lettuce for an elegant side dish that feeds a crowd.

Pasta with red clam sauce made from fresh littleneck clams steamed in white wine and fish stock, then tossed with tomato, basil, and oregano. Light, briny, and ready in 30 minutes.

Fresh pear salsa with tomatoes, green pepper, oregano, basil, and a kick of hot sauce. A sweet-savory fruit salsa ready in 20 minutes that pairs with chips, fish, or grilled chicken.

Roma tomatoes slow-roasted for three hours with olive oil, garlic, and hot chili until jammy and concentrated, then tossed with spaghetti, parsley, and basil. Named for the volcano and just as fiery.

Steamed salmon in orange-tomato sauce poaches skinless salmon fillets over a bright reduction of orange juice, white wine, garlic, and plum tomatoes, perfumed with fresh basil. A light, low-fat 35-minute weeknight dinner.

I made this for my bridge club. All eight gals including me loved it. The other seven asked for the recipe. It's easy to make and delicious. The lemon and fresh basil add a lot to the recipe. Interestingly enough, Kraft doesn't have this on their recipe web site even though it's one of their recipes.

Ground beef simmered with warm cinnamon, oregano, and tomato sauce layered between broiled eggplant slices for this beloved Greek comfort food. A family-friendly take on classic moussaka.

A hearty ground beef and spinach casserole layered with cottage cheese and bubbly mozzarella in a rich tomato sauce with mushrooms. Like lasagna without the noodles.

Cheese ravioli tossed in homemade broccoli pesto with walnuts, Parmesan, and lemon. A vibrant vegetarian pasta that puts a whole head of broccoli to work.

Low-calorie broccoli soup blended smooth with carrots, celery, and herbs, studded with whole broccoli buds and elbow macaroni. Creamy comfort without the cream.

Beef brisket marinated 48 hours in red wine vinegar with herbs, then smoked 6-7 hours at 225°F for tender, aromatic slices.

A simplified cheesy zucchini quiche with an easy crescent roll crust and layers of flavor. Turns out more like a pie than a traditional quiche.