Basil recipes

Herbed chickpea patties blended with egg whites, bread crumbs, dry mustard, oregano, and basil, pan-fried on a nonstick griddle. Low-fat vegetarian fritters similar to falafel but lighter and easier to make.

Herb-packed chicken spaghetti sauce with oregano, basil, marjoram, and rosemary simmered in tomato paste and sauce. Make it in the microwave for a quick dinner or on the stovetop for deeper flavor.

Freezer-friendly chicken and noodle casserole in a red wine tomato-mushroom sauce with basil and garlic. Make it ahead, freeze in individual portions, and reheat on busy nights. Serves 4 to 6.

Fresh tomato pasta toss simmers blanched and peeled tomatoes with garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano, finished with a splash of cream over penne. A high-summer pasta sauce when tomatoes are at their peak.

Lemon dill chicken in the Paul Prudhomme style: boneless chicken breasts seasoned with dill, basil and pepper, then pan-seared and simmered in a tangy apple juice and lemon pan sauce. Low-fat skillet dinner.

In a hurry? Try this quick and tasty vegetable soup that will satisfy your hunger!

Bachelor's Stew is a dump-and-go slow cooker beef stew with bread crumb-coated chuck, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and tomato soup. Ten minutes of prep, then the Crock-Pot does all the work.

The addition of cream cheese makes this quiche wonderfully rich and creamy in t exture.

A delicate angel hair pasta recipe that delivers bold, vibrant flavor with minimal effort and simple fresh ingredients. A pasta main dish you turn to on busy weeknights that is on the table in about 20 minutes.

An Italian omelet. Unlike a French omelet where the egg is folded over the ingredients, the ingredients are actually mixed into the eggs.

A hearty Louisiana-style lentil stew simmered with tomatoes, red wine, zucchini, and Italian herbs. Think of it as Cajun chili without the meat. Serve over polenta or brown rice.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, broccoli, and sauteed mushrooms, baked in tomato sauce. A lighter Italian-style vegetarian dinner with no added oil.

Homemade pasta triangles stuffed with salmon, cream cheese, and peppers, dried for an hour, then baked in tomato soup and topped with melted cheddar: unique salmon ravioli casserole.

Layered Italian bake with rotini, salted zucchini, potatoes, prosciutto, tomatoes, and Parmesan dotted with butter. A hearty make-ahead casserole with serious depth.

Wasn't sure about using ground chicken instead of beef to make bolognese, but I was surprised by how flavorful it turned out. For ground chicken, I just chopped chicken breasts into tiny pieces, and it worked like a charm. I have to say that I will definitely be making this recipe again very soon.

Chicken and ham wrapped in a pinwheel served on a bed of lettuce. Beautiful to look at and low in fat.