Basil recipes

Open-faced pesto, tomato, and melted cheese sandwich on a roll, broiled until bubbly. Five-minute lunch with bright basil pesto and gooey cheese.

Italian-style zucchini with butter, olive oil, basil, oregano, and parsley. A quick microwave side dish that keeps the zucchini crisp-tender in 20 minutes.

Easy chicken cacciatore with canned tomatoes, garlic, basil, and parsley simmered uncovered for 40 minutes. A rustic Italian one-pan dinner with minimal prep.

Homemade herb yogurt cheese strained with thyme, basil, and pepper. A low-fat spread for crackers or baked potatoes that keeps for two weeks in the fridge.

Oil-free tomato vinaigrette with fresh tomatoes, white wine vinegar, basil, thyme, and Dijon mustard. A light, fat-free blender dressing for green salads and pasta salads.

Salt-free seasoning blend with garlic powder, basil, star anise, oregano, and lemon zest. A homemade spice mix for low-sodium cooking that adds real flavor without the salt.

Pan-seared venison steaks with butter, fennel, garlic salt, and basil. A 15-minute hunter's skillet recipe for tender deer steaks cooked medium-rare in a hot pan.

Dried tomato salad dressing made by soaking sun-dried tomatoes in red wine vinegar with basil, thyme, and rosemary in olive oil. No cooking needed, just 6-12 hours to marinate.

Herbed whole wheat bread crumbs use up stale bread with basil, thyme, chervil, garlic, and shallot. A pantry-saver that beats every store-bought crumb on flavor, freezer-friendly for months.

Try something new for lunch with this scrumptious dish that's so easy to make, a caveman can do it!

A classic combination of fine herbs for general purpose use.

Skin-on chicken quarters baked with artichoke hearts in a herbed sherry and tomato sauce. One pan, one hour, and the whole kitchen smells like a Mediterranean bistro. Serves 4 to 5.

Four-ingredient pesto pizza with Romano cheese and pine nuts on a pre-made crust. No tomato sauce needed. Ready in under 30 minutes for game day or a quick weeknight dinner.

Ron Santo's linguine with clam sauce pairs the Chicago Cubs legend's red clam sauce with diced tomatoes, mushrooms, white wine, and a pinch of cayenne for a quick Italian pasta dinner.

Tomato herb bruschetta with fresh Roma tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, and balsamic vinegar on toasted crusty bread. A classic Italian appetizer ready in 10 minutes, no cooking required.

Sun-dried tomato tapenade blends rehydrated tomatoes with black olives, capers, garlic, and lemon zest. A bright Provençal spread for bread, crackers, or grilled chicken.