Got basil? Use up your summer’s bounty with these fresh basil recipes for everything from sauces to breakfasts to dinners.
When we went to plant our garden this summer, I decided to try growing basil again. In past years, our basil plants have sat, only occasionally harvested, until they bolted and went to seed. And yet, something drew me to try again. We’d always planted basil with the good intentions of making and freezing pesto and other sauces to enjoy year round. Would this be the year that it would actually happen?
Yes.
I don’t know what’s different about this year, precisely. I mean, sure, I have a different job and my kids are older. And yes, I have been consistently going to the garden more than in years. And yes, after so many years of growing food, I finally show up prepared with kitchen shears and vessels for collecting the harvest and …
Okay, maybe I do know what’s changed. It’s me.
Of course, all of this means that there’s been a lot of cooking happening in our kitchen, despite the unusually hot and humid Maine summer. But that’s okay. We’ve had delicious summer dinners, creative meal-prep lunches and are storing sauces for later. When winter rolls around and I have fresh pesto to pull out, I will be grateful.
Are you looking for some fresh basil recipes to use up your bounty? Here are some favorites from the Sarah’s Cucina Bella archives that we have made again and again over the years. I hope you find something you adore.
Fresh Basil Recipes to Try This Summer
Got fresh basil? Use up your summer's bountry with these delicious and creative fresh basil recipes for everything from sauces to dinners.
Bright and vibrant, this fresh basil pesto is a delight served with pasta, spread on bread or used in any number of ways.
Fresh garlic scapes, basil and parsley combine to make an herby, fragrant pesto in this easy Garlic Scape Pesto recipe.
This salad dressing is like a taste of summertime. The light flavor is brimming with the sunny freshness of basil while vinegar and garlic give it a touch of tang and bite.
Garlic scapes combine with red wine vinegar and other ingredients to make a tangy, garlicky dressing perfect for salads or marinating chicken.
Seeking the perfect basil garlic sauce? This basil chimichurri recipe yields a robust, bold, summery sauce perfect for drizzling on so many foods.
Fresh farmers market veggies and a zesty red wine vinaigrette come together in this easy recipe for Farmer's Market Panzanella Salad. Perfect for serving to guests — or with grilled chicken.
Peppery pancetta, sweet red onions, meaty clams ... This Steamed Clams with White Wine, Pancetta and Basil recipe has a symphony of flavors that make it delightful.
Warm grilled salmon is topped with a cool, sweet peach, basil and tomato topping in this easy recipe. It will be a dinner hit!
Transform ordinary fries into something extraordinary with this easy recipe for Garlic Feta Fries. They'll be ready in no time!
Got beans? Transform your garden-fresh veggies into this bold, flavorful Green Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette. It will delight your tastebuds.
Elegant and bold, these easy Tomato Basil Bruschetta Egg Bites have a crispy fillo shell, a cool and fresh tomato topping and a warm finish of basil.
Sundried Tomato, Chicken and Garlic Pasta is a flavorful, bright one-pot pasta with the warm, sweetness of sundried tomatoes and pungent earthiness of garlic.
Forget avocado toast (and it’s budget-killing reputation). Skip the
peanut butter toast and egg toast too. No, you want to try this flavorful, easy
Tomato Ricotta Toast with Basil. Normally bland ricotta gets a big boost of
flavor with bright basil. And the tomatoes, cooked just till they burst, add a
juicy dimension to the dish.
Crispy breaded chicken is bathed in a bright, succulent homemade marinara sauce and topped with creamy burrata cheese in this recipe for Burrata Chicken Parm. Serve over a bed of spinach or with pasta.
Creamy, salty, fresh, these easy to make Burrata Caprese Sandwiches are a delight.