34 Super Fresh Basil Recipes To Carry You Through The Rest Of Summer

How do we love thee, basil? Let us count the ways.

Fresh basil is one of our favorite parts of summer. It's herbal, refreshing and remarkably versatile. It can liven up a pasta sauce or salad, even a cocktail or dessert. There's pretty much nothing that basil can't hang with, which is why it should be you go-to herb from here on out.

While we typically use just a few varieties -- the sweet Italian kind, known as Sweet Genovese; Thai basil, most often used in Asian cuisine; and Purple Opal basil, a fun addition to cocktails -- there are actually more than 60 types of basil to choose from.

To get the strongest basil flavor, add fresh leaves in at the end of your cooking (though that may vary with the recipe). However you use it, don't be shy. Experiment with adding basil to recipes you might not think to use it in. We promise, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Here are 34 ways to make the most of fresh basil this summer.

1

Fried Mozzarella, Basil and Nectarine Stacks with Balsamic Glaze

Half Baked Harvest
2

Basil Pesto Vinaigrette

Cookie And Kate
Get the Basil Pesto Vinaigrette recipe from Cookie + Kate
3

Thai Basil Beef

The Woks of Life
Get the Thai Basil Beef recipe from The Woks of Life
4

Zucchini Basil Soup

Feasting at Home
Get the Zucchini Basil Soup recipe from Feasting at Home
5

Basil Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

Half Baked Harvest
Get the Basil Goat Cheese Pasta Salad recipe from Half Baked Harvest
6

Basil Cornmeal Sandwich Shortbread With Apricot Filling

Becca Bakes
7

Nectarine Pizza With Fresh Basil And Reduced Balsamic

Alexandra Cooks
8

Prosciutto Pesto Pizza Twists

A Zesty Bite
Get the Prosciutto Pesto Pizza Twists recipe from A Zesty Bite
9

Greek Olive Pesto And Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas With Marinated Feta And Garbanzo Beans

Half Baked Harvest
10

Tomato And Peach Salad With Red Onion And Basil

Dinner Was Delicious
11

Super Summery Pasta

Alexandra Cooks
Get the Super Summery Pasta recipe from Alexandra Cooks
12

Lemon-Basil Mojito

Cookie And Kate
Get the Lemon-Basil Mojito recipe from Cookie + Kate
13

Peach Bruschetta With Goat Cheese, Basil And Honey

Feasting at Home
14

20-Minute Basil Cashew Chicken

Half Baked Harvest
Get the 20-Minute Basil Cashew Chicken recipe from Half Baked Harvest
15

Peach And Basil Arnold Palmer

Half Baked Harvest
Get the Peach And Basil Arnold Palmer recipe from Half Baked Harvest
16

Pesto

Alexandra Cooks
Get the Pesto recipe from Alexandra Cooks
17

Smashed Grape Cocktail With Basil

Verses From My Kitchen
Get the Smashed Grape Cocktail With Basil recipe from Verses From My Kitchen
18

Prosciutto Wrapped Melon Balls

bell'allimento
Get the Prosciutto Wrapped Melon Balls recipe from bell'allimento
19

Fried Caprese Salad

bell'allimento
Get the Fried Caprese Salad recipe from bell'allimento
20

Basil Ice Cream

The Faux Martha
Get the Basil Ice Cream recipe from The Faux Martha
21

Raspberry Basil Mojito

A Beautiful Mess
Get the Raspberry Basil Mojito recipe from A Beautiful Mess
22

Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers

Skinny Taste
Get the Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers recipe from Skinny Taste
23

15-Minute Zucchini Pasta With Poached Eggs And Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce

Half Baked Harvest
24

Caramelized Peach Caprese Salad With Smoked Sea Salt

How Sweet It Is
25

Simple Vegan Pesto

Food52
Get the Simple Vegan Pesto recipe by Gena Hamshaw from Food52

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