Three Easy and Fresh Basil Recipes {Perfect for Summer!}
July 30, 2025
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Three simple and delicious recipes made with basil!
Basil is one of my favorite herbs, and is so easy to grow at home! I usually
have WAY too much and am always looking for ways to use it up.
I found these basil recipes years ago and they are still staples around here.
If you're looking for ways to use up your crop or just love basil like me,
you'll enjoy these three recipes made with this delicious herb. I've included my
favorite snack idea, a pasta dish (actually two!) and a delicious cocktail to finish it all
off. ;)
First up, one that works for a quick snack or as a great dip for parties. It’s SO simple to throw together!
1. Easy basil pesto
Pesto is a great way to use up a lot of basil and it's easy to make!
I usually make a small amount, so this is for a snack
sized version. Perfect for just a few people! (And a little goes a looong way in pasta.)
The great thing about this recipe is you can easily customize the taste to how
you like it. I don't use exact measurements:
EASY BASIL PESTO
Grated Parmesan cheese
Extra-virgin olive oil
One clove of garlic (or one teaspoon minced)
Basil leaves
Extra-virgin olive oil
One clove of garlic (or one teaspoon minced)
Basil leaves
Salt to taste
Pine nuts (although these are expensive and I think it tastes just as good
without!)
There's no preparation needed, other than washing your basil leaves and patting them dry.
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Mix to the consistency you desire. My mini food processor is perfect for small recipes like this! I've had this one for 15 years and it's still kicking.
Taste test it to see if you'd like more of any ingredient. If it's too thick,
add a splash of olive oil. Too bland? Add more garlic or basil.
I LOVE basil, so I add a lot of it and a little more garlic than the recipe suggests.
Taste and mix till it’s where you want it. I like to eat it with crackers or cut up veggies:
If you'll be eating this with salty crackers, hold back on the amount of salt you add to the dip.
You can also add it to pasta -- so good! This is my favorite way to eat pesto:
By the way, yes, you can freeze pesto. Make a bunch and save some!
Spoon your fresh pesto into ice cube trays and freeze to add to recipes or thaw for later.
Now that we have an appetizer, let’s move on to the main course. :)
2. Easy Tomato and Basil Pasta
This pasta has basil as a main ingredient and is SO simple and good:
This dish really couldn’t get any easier! Mix everything together while
cooking your pasta:
FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA
3 medium tomatoes, chopped (or one canned)
1/3 cup chopped basil leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic or 1/2 teaspoon minced (add more if you like garlic)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces pasta, uncooked (about one and a half cups)
3/4 to 1 cup grated or shaved Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup chopped basil leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic or 1/2 teaspoon minced (add more if you like garlic)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces pasta, uncooked (about one and a half cups)
3/4 to 1 cup grated or shaved Parmesan cheese
I had two cans of tomatoes in the pic above, but you only need one. It’s more
than enough!
But again, this is another easy recipe that you can tweak to meet your tastes.
Mix with the cooked pasta, and top with some more parmesan. That's it!
I like to throw mine in a pan for a bit to warm the cheese, but it's not
necessary:
You can add a little Italian seasoning in as well, but there's so
much flavor in this dish it's not needed.
It would be delicious with chicken or veggies, but SO good as is:
You can also make it as a pasta salad by rinsing the pasta after cooking then refrigerating it.
I have yet to try it cold, but that sounds delicious too.
3. Dragonberry Strawberry Basil cocktail
Let's finish off this trio with a yummy drink, shall we?
This basil cocktail has become one of my favorites.
Yes, basil...in a drink. I promise you, it's good! This fizzy and fresh berry drink is perfect for a warm summer evening.
There's just a hint of basil in this strawberry basil lemonade drink:
STRAWBERRY BASIL LEMONADE COCKTAIL
2 parts Bacardi Dragonberry Rum
1 part lemon juice
1 part simple syrup or sweet lime juice
Basil leaves
Strawberries (hulled and chopped)
2 parts Sprite or other clear fizzy soda
1 part lemon juice
1 part simple syrup or sweet lime juice
Basil leaves
Strawberries (hulled and chopped)
2 parts Sprite or other clear fizzy soda
If you don't LOVE basil, try this out with just one leaf to see what you think. The drink will taste great without the basil though. :)
Put that aside and move onto the rest of the ingredients.
I prefer to use fresh-squeezed lemons when I can, but bottled lemon juice is fine. Half of a lemon is perfect for one serving:
Add the lemon juice, simple syrup and Bacardi rum in a
shaker with a bunch of ice.
Shake well and pour into your glass of choice:
Then enjoy!:
I would think this could be made none alcoholic by omitting the rum. It would be
a beautiful punch for a shower or party!
Again, if you don’t like basil, this may not be for you. But don't count it out if you're not a basil fan!
The basil gives it just a little kick that is so different and fresh.
So there you go...a plethora of basil recipes, all easy and sooooo good. All perfect if you grow your own basil -- I always hate to have any go to waste.
**Check out
my simple summer beer margarita recipe for another warm weather favorite and
this
amazing sausage and spinach pasta
is so fresh and delicious!:
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oh! a basil cocktail how fresh!
ReplyDeleteI want a big rocking chair, a wrap around porch and a warm summers night to go with it please!
I'm definitely putting this on my "to drink" list
We grow Basil in our garden and we always have a plethora. Thanks for sharing ideas on how we can use it!
ReplyDeleteMichelle @ www.thrifty101.blogspot.com
I'm also a fresh basil lover!! One of my favourite recipes is my sun-dried tomato pesto. http://thebakingbookworm.blogspot.com/2010/09/sun-dried-tomato-basil-pesto.html Its so addicting!! I love to put a dollop on top of some goat cheese on a cracker delish!
ReplyDeleteSadly my recently planted basil plant can't keep up with my demand yet! I picked so many leaves off my older basil plant that it looks like it has a bad case of mange. Sad but true. Thanks for sharing your fav recipes. :)
I love basil too and I really like your recipes.
ReplyDeleteAnother crazy easy recipe is to take your freshly made pesto, spread it on an already made pizza crust then top it with shrimp and mozzarella cheese. Throw it in the oven for about 15 minutes to melt the cheese and you are set. It's amazing!
ooh yummy, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have another one - fried squash blossoms. You can pluck blossoms from your squash plants or can sometimes find them at farmer's markets.
Mix your favorite soft cheese with pieces of torn fresh basil
Stuff just enough of the mixture into the squash blossom that you can re-close it and twist the tips of the petals together
Dip in an egg wash and drench with your favorite deep-fry batter, and fry in a shallow pan of oil.
I discovered this recipe last year when my squash kept rotting on the vine (apparently from not being fertilized) and I saw a vendor selling blossoms at the farmer's market with mini-squash attached and looked up recipes to see what I could do with a squash blossom. You can use any herbs, and I happened to be growing basil at the time. It's delicious!!
Thank you for the recipes! Looks delicious for the summer
ReplyDeleteThat lemonade looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI do a similar pasta recipe, but I use 3 cups fresh diced tomatoes and instead of Parmesan cheese, I use mozzarella cut into 1/2 inch cubes. I'll have to try it with Parmesan sometime. That sounds delish, too!
ReplyDeleteIt all looks great and things I could actually do and ENJOY the doing of them as well as the eating! And that DRINK!!! I have to make me one of those!!
ReplyDeleteAnother couple good recipes with tomato and basil: bruschetta...mix the tomatoes, basil,olive oil, garlic,and s&p, together much like you did for the pasta. Simmer, then put on sliced french bread, top with little parmesan. Toast in oven.
ReplyDeleteTomato-Basil Pie...slice tomato, rough cut basil. Layer in a pie shell, adding s&p to tomatoes. when done, mix 3/4-1c. mayo and 1 c. mozzarella cheese. Top tomato/basil with mayo cheese mix. Bake at 350 for 45 min.
Thanks for the recipes!! I have an herb garden and although I don't cook with it constantly, it's fun to have a few new things to try. My favorite herb is oregano! My h. will especially like the strawberry/basil drink idea....mmmm, I'm picturing the drink with basil from my garden and freshly picked berries in June...mmmm.
ReplyDeleteLOVE basil and can't wait to try the lemonade!
ReplyDeletemmm... pesto. I miss basil. (Hubby's allergic so I can't cook with it anymore.)
ReplyDeleteDelicious!! Love fresh pesto, and I'm not a fan of cooking myself...I try, but my heart isn't in it! :)
ReplyDeleteJanell
Oh my word...each recipe looks better than the last, Sarah. I am all about trying that summer cocktail. Delish!! I used dried basil all the time, but I've never used fresh. Do you just pull the leaves right off your plant, or do you need to snip them with scissors? I've got some rosemary going outside and some oregano, but would like to do basil too!
ReplyDeleteLove love love PESTO but have never made it myself. Summer salad recipes are so easy and really love them in our house this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteOh, did I mention that I LOVE pesto?
Di
Oh I love pesto too!!!
ReplyDeleteWe pretty much always have some in the fridge :)
Here's my favorite recipe for it:
http://ladykayskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/need-veggies-in-your-life-presto.html
I love pesto and basil! Yummo!
ReplyDeleteThe first two are staples at our house - the cocktail is new to me and definitely going into the recipe stash. It looks FANTASTIC!
ReplyDeleteGreat basil ideas!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of basil planted as well, including boxwood basil...looking forward to creating yummies with it later this summer
I love basil, I grow it and use it often. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteUm, yes please.... delivery to Ohio requested!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I wish I lived in Indiana, because I would come visit you and we'd have pesto, pasta, and strawberry basil cocktails afterwards. And then we'd spray paint a bunch of stuff, and then we'd have another basil cocktail. :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, enjoy cooking; the planning, not so much. We've recently discovered e-mealz.com....omg....brilliant. Check it out...all the planning is done for you....even the grocery list!!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipes! I use walnuts instead of pine nuts in my pesto.
ReplyDeleteI make a watermelon basil margarita that you might really like- I usually just eyeball the ingredients, but you should do some experimenting and see how you like that combo!
ReplyDelete