:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Walnut-Pesto-Past-Salad-5386816708b54620b4246466bce22bc2.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,0&ssl=1 "19 Garden Fresh Basil Recipes")
If you have a garden full of basil or are lucky enough to snag a bundle at a farmers market, we have some great ways to use it. Fresh basil adds a layer of pepperiness that brightens up any dish, including soups, sandwiches, salads, dressings—and even drinks.
A few of our recipes include instructions for making basil pesto. One of the best things about pesto is that it can be prepared ahead and frozen into convenient-sized cubes, locking in that fresh summer flavor for use throughout the winter months. Recipes like Basil Lemonade and Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad are just a couple of the healthy, tasty recipes that utilize this favorite garden herb. Keep reading for more.
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
This one-pot pasta with tangy tomato-basil sauce is a simple, fast and easy weeknight dinner. All of your ingredients go into one pot, and with a bit of stirring and about 25 minutes of cook time, you’ll have a healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto & Chicken
This healthy summer dinner subs zoodles for pasta to help use up your zucchini bounty—as well as slash calories and carbs. Once the spiralized zucchini has time to soak up the herby pesto sauce, this chicken and pesto pasta makes particularly good leftovers. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018
Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata
This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2014
Tomato Salad with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette
Seek out several varieties of heirloom tomatoes for this simple salad. Sweeter and juicier than conventional tomatoes, they add the perfect pop of color. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2018
Basil Lemonade
Basil and lemon pair beautifully in this refreshing summer sipper, sweetened with a touch of honey. Make ahead and allow the mixture to infuse for 30 minutes to 1 hour before straining for a stronger basil flavor. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018
Basil-Ricotta Cheese Dumplings with Creamy Peas & Bacon
In this dinner, ricotta dumplings are pan-fried until browned and served with creamy peas, bacon (or pancetta) and shaved Parmesan. Part-skim ricotta makes light and fluffy dumplings and adds protein to this elegant dish. For an easy mess-free way to shape the dumplings, see our tip on how to make quenelles. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019
Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad
This cold pesto pasta salad will cool you off on a summer day. Fresh tomatoes and roasted red peppers add a pop of bright color and juiciness here, but any of your favorite pasta-salad veggies, like blanched broccoli and fresh bell peppers, would be delicious too. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2020
Basil-Chickpea Flatbread
A flavorful combination of chickpeas, cashews and garlic forms a protein-rich base for this homemade flatbread. Store-bought crust makes prep a breeze. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020
Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables
This dish is an easy way to turn grilled vegetables into a satisfying meal, thanks to hearty whole-grain pasta and a quick homemade pesto. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020
Strawberry Basil Quinoa Salad
The folks who promote California strawberries sponsored a national cook-off for kids and challenged them to come up with a quick creative recipe. A 12-year-old from Maryland took the prize for this grain salad, which the cook-off judge, a former MasterChef Junior winner himself, proclaimed easy, healthy and, of course most important, delicious. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2020
Pesto Chicken Bake
This pesto chicken bake is easy to make as well as delicious! The chicken stays moist while the cheese on top gets bubbly and crispy. The pesto, mozzarella and tomato combination is a home run every time. Serve the chicken over pasta or your favorite grain. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2020
Roasted Bell Pepper Salad with Mozzarella & Basil
Sweet peppers like red, orange and yellow bells stand in for tomatoes in this caprese-style salad and pair deliciously with the fresh mozzarella and acidic balsamic drizzle. Try green bell peppers if you prefer less sweetness. This easy, healthy recipe takes just 20 minutes to make. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019
One-Pan Chicken with Basil-Anchovy Butter & Shishito Peppers
Don’t skip the anchovies in this healthy chicken thigh recipe. Their fishiness blends in, adding salty, umami flavor, so that even skeptics of the salty little fish won’t protest. And this healthy skillet dinner is cooked in one pan and takes just 20 minutes to prep—in case you need more selling points for this recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019
Strawberry, Basil & Lime Infused Water
Meet your daily hydration goals with a refreshing fruity spa water. Adding sliced fruit and torn herbs is a simple way to boost the flavor of still or sparkling water without adding calories. It’s also a beautiful beverage option for showers or parties. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018
Tomato-Basil Zoodle Salad
Spiralized zucchini noodles make the perfect base for this colorful and flavorful salad—think pasta salad without all the carbs! It comes together quickly for a light lunch or easy side. Add grilled chicken, shrimp or chickpeas to make a heartier meal. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2017
Lemon Herbed Orzo Pasta
This quick and easy lemony and herb pasta dish makes a delicious side. Try adding chicken or shrimp for a more complete meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine
Pan-Seared Scallops with Tomato, Olives and Fresh Basil
This Italian-inspired dish is full of flavor. Use whole-grain or multigrain fettuccine to make it a healthier option. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine
Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
This no-cook bean salad is a delicious way to use summer’s best cherry or grape tomatoes and juicy cucumbers for a light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018
Thai Chicken Stir-Fry with Basil & Cashews
This quick chicken stir-fry recipe is flavored with classic Thai ingredients: savory fish sauce balanced with tangy lime juice and plenty of fresh basil. Have all the ingredients prepared and ready to add to the wok before you turn on the heat. Serve with brown rice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2014
:strip_icc()/storing-herbs-3af27860-a92dd98abfe74cfb980fbb2653614ef7.jpg?w=768&resize=768,0&ssl=1 "How to Store Fresh Basil")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-nordstrom-tomato-soup-2x1-3f97f54a9912458894c8904f3cc9d1a5.jpg?w=768&resize=768,0&ssl=1 "I Tried Nordstrom’s Famous Tomato Basil Soup, and Now I Get the Obsession")
