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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.
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1 Fried Mozzarella, Basil and Nectarine Stacks with Balsamic Glaze
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Fried Mozzarella, Basil and Nectarine Stacks with Balsamic Glaze recipe from Half Baked Harvest -
2 Easy Summer Pasta Salad
Two Peas And Their Pod
Get the Easy Summer Pasta Salad recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod -
3 Pesto
Alexandra Cooks
Get the Pesto recipe from Alexandra Cooks -
4 Prosciutto Pesto Pizza Twists
A Zesty Bite
Get the Prosciutto Pesto Pizza Twists recipe from A Zesty Bite -
5 Basil Vinaigrette
Tina Rupp/Food & Wine
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6 Asparagus Rolls With Prosciutto And Basil Ricotta Cheese
New Media Publishing
Get the Asparagus Rolls with Prosciutto and Basil Ricotta Cheese recipe from New Media Publishing -
7 Nectarine Pizza With Fresh Basil And Reduced Balsamic
Alexandra Cooks
Get the Nectarine Pizza With Fresh Basil And Reduced Balsamic recipe from Alexandra Cooks -
8 Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers
Skinny Taste
Get the Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers recipe from Skinny Taste -
9 Crispy Gnocchi With Basil Pesto
Two Peas and Their Pod
Get the Crispy Gnocchi With Basil Pesto recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod -
10 Thai Basil Chicken
FoodieCrush
Get the Thai Basil Chicken recipe from FoodieCrush -
11 Sautéed Zucchini with Mint, Basil and Walnuts
Food52
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12 Smashed Grape Cocktail With Basil
Verses From My Kitchen
Get the Smashed Grape Cocktail With Basil recipe from Verses From My Kitchen -
13 Caponata, Mozzarella And Basil Panini
New Media Publishing
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14 Chicken Salad With Olive Oil And Herbs
Alexandra Cooks
Get the Chicken Salad With Olive Oil And Herbs recipe from Alexandra Cooks -
15 Simple Vegan Pesto
Food52
Get the Simple Vegan Pesto recipe by Gena Hamshaw from Food52 -
16 Tomato And Peach Salad With Red Onion And Basil
Dinner Was Delicious
Get the Tomato And Peach Salad With Red Onion And Basil recipe from Dinner Was Delicious -
17 Chilled Summer Squash And Basil Soup
Taste
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18 Cherry Tomato Tart With Basil
Tina Rupp/Food & Wine
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19 Basil Ice Cream
The Faux Martha
Get the Basil Ice Cream recipe from The Faux Martha -
20 Pasta With Green Beans, Potatoes And Basil Pesto
Guy Ambrosino
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21 Strawberry Basil Paletas
A Girl Defloured
Get the Strawberry Basil Paletas recipe from A Girl Defloured -
22 15-Minute Zucchini Pasta With Poached eggs And Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce
Half Baked Harvest
Get the 15-Minute Zucchini Pasta With Poached eggs And Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce recipe from Half Baked Harvest -
23 Edamame Basil Hummus
Two Peas And Their Pod
Get the Edamame Basil Hummus recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod -
24 Cheese Ravioli with Lemon Basil Butter Sauce
Two Peas And Their Pod
Get the Cheese Ravioli with Lemon Basil Butter Sauce recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod -
25 Greek Olive Pesto And Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas With Marinated Feta And Garbanzo Beans
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Greek Olive Pesto And Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas With Marinated Feta And Garbanzo Beans recipe from Half Baked Harvest -
26 Caramelized Peach Caprese Salad With Smoked Sea Salt
How Sweet It Is
Get the Caramelized Peach Caprese Salad With Smoked Sea Salt recipe from How Sweet It Is -
27 Raspberry Basil Mojito
A Beautiful Mess
Get the Raspberry Basil Mojito recipe from A Beautiful Mess -
28 Fried Caprese Salad
bell'allimento
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29 Super Summery Pasta
Alexandra Cooks
Get the Super Summery Pasta recipe from Alexandra Cooks -
30 Prosciutto Wrapped Melon Balls
bell'allimento
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31 Smoky Minestrone With Tortellini And Parsley Or Basil Pesto
Food52
Get the Smoky Minestrone With Tortellini And Parsley Or Basil Pesto recipe by WinnieAb from Food52 -
32 Grilled Corn With Basil Butter
Food52
Get the Grilled Corn With Basil Butter recipe by Lisina from Food52 -
33 Zucchini With Basil, Mint And Honey
Food52
Get the Zucchini With Basil, Mint And Honey recipe by Amanda Hesser from Food52 -
34 Basil Cornmeal Sandwich Shortbread With Apricot Filling
Becca Bakes
Get the Basil Cornmeal Sandwich Shortbread With Apricot Filling recipe from Becca Bakes
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