Best basil recipes

Basil recipes

Basil pesto

Whizz those basil leaves up with pine nuts, parmesan, garlic and oil (or use a pestle and mortar for a coarser texture). Stir it through pasta for a quick and easy meal.

Basil oil

Blend basil leaves with oil to make a vibrant green herb oil that's great for drizzling over dishes. This recipe pairs it with Spanish-style snack of tomato and lardo on toast.

Basil sorbet

Infuse that herb into a syrup to make this refreshing and aromatic orange and basil sorbet.

Basil-infused cocktail

Get that fresh, herby flavour by using those leaves in a cocktail. They pair perfectly with grapefruit in this refreshing basil cooler, which uses the stalks as well as the leaves.

Basil dressing

Try whizzing up basil with just a couple of other ingredients to create a zingy dressing to toss through salad. This cannellini bean and roast squash number is a great example.

Basil, feta and prawn pasta salad

Toss basil leaves through ambient salads and they'll maintain their vibrant colour and freshest flavour. This pasta salad is a great example.

Basil-topped pavlova

Basil loves all kinds of fruit – here it's scattered over a summery peach pavlova to add an aromatic, herby edge to the dessert.

Prawn caesar salad

The addition of basil to this caesar salad recipe helps to give it a more summery feel.

Basil and tomato stew

Basil and tomato is a classic pairing that never gets old. Try slow-cooking tomatoes and then stirring through basil for a hearty and healthy stew, packed with flavour.

Tomato and basil pizza bread

Bake that basil into bread, along with tomato purée, and you have a tasty snack or pre-dinner nibble. This pizza swirl bread is a great tear-and-share idea.

Spaghetti with basil, tomato and prawns

Basil helps to create a fresh and fragrant sauce for this pasta dish – it's amazing what different just a small handful of leaves can make.