Basil recipes

Shepherd's pie with an Italian accent: ground beef and hot Italian sausage simmered with tomatoes, mushrooms and balsamic, topped with creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes and baked golden. A hearty twist on the classic.

Beef scallops with fresh tomato sauce: top round steak pounded paper-thin, pan-seared, then napped with a quick sauce of fresh tomatoes, green onions, and basil. The Italian veal-scaloppini technique applied to budget beef.

Lentil and rice one-pot supper with carrots, garlic, basil, and vegetable stock. A filling vegan dinner made in a single saucepan in 30 minutes with pantry staples.

Spring vegetables baked in parchment parcels with toasted hazelnuts, herbs, and a red wine vinaigrette. A French en papillote vegetable preparation served alongside lemon tagliatelle for an elegant vegetarian main.

Quick vegetarian pizza on a Boboli crust topped with fresh tomato, broccoli florets, red onion, basil, and melted mozzarella. Ready in about 25 minutes, weeknight-friendly meatless dinner.

Layered avocado terrine with Dijon mustard and whipped cream, sliced and served with poached shrimp and a fresh basil tomato cream sauce. A showstopping chilled appetizer for special occasions.

Smoky roasted red peppers, salty prosciutto, and melty provolone pile onto a cornmeal-dusted pizza crust. Fresh chives and basil finish this 25-minute bake with bright, herby flavor.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, lemon zest, chives, and chopped almonds, then drizzled with a bright lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. Served cold or at room temperature.

Liver, bacon and onions done right: beef liver soaked in milk to mellow its bite, dredged, pan-fried until just pink, then simmered in a savory herb gravy with crisp bacon and sweet onions. Old-school comfort food.

Pasta tossed with homemade basil pesto, a light olive oil bechamel, sun-dried tomatoes, and toasted breadcrumbs. A layered Italian pasta with three sauces in one bowl.

Red snapper fillets simmered on a bed of sauteed onion rings with tomato sauce and sweet basil. A simple, healthy fish dinner ready in 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.

Sauteed chicken livers coated in seasoned pancake flour with garlic and basil, pan-fried golden with onions and mushrooms. Serve over rice pilaf or as a rich appetizer.

Squid spaghetti in a fresh tomato sauce with basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme. Tender squid simmered gently in Roma tomatoes for a simple Italian seafood pasta.

Pressure cooker zucchini soup pureed with potatoes, carrots, and fresh basil. Ready in 20 minutes with just five minutes at high pressure for a silky, vegetable-packed bowl.

Sicilian-style spaghetti with eggplant sauce built from salted cubed eggplant, plum tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and capers. A rustic Mediterranean pasta with briny depth and a hint of heat.

Layered Mediterranean eggplant pie with spinach, tomatoes, pesto, and softened onions under a golden pastry crust. Topped with caviar for a luxurious vegetarian main course.