Easy Classic Pesto Recipe

Best basil recipes

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Growing basil your garden? Or perhaps you have some leftover leaves which need using up? Make great use of this fragrant herb in everything from cocktails and dressings to sauces and desserts

Looking for fresh basil recipes? Have leftover basil that needs using up? From cocktails to sauces and desserts, our recipes provide plenty of inspiration. Next try our fresh coriander recipes, fresh mint recipes, chive recipes, wild garlic recipes and find out how to use up leftover herbs.

When is basil in season?

English basil is at its best in the summer.

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.

Easy Classic Pesto Recipe

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.

Tomatoes on Toast Recipe with Lardo

Basil sorbet

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

Orange Sorbet Recipe

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 and grapefruit cooler

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.

Cannellini bean and roast squash salad with basil dressing

Melon, mozzarella and parma ham tartines

This quick starter is easily scaled and doesn't scrimp on style or substance - combine shaved, salty parma ham with juicy ripe melon and creamy mozzarella.

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.

Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe with Prawns

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.

Peach Pavlova Recipe with Mascarpone Cream

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 stewRecipe

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.

Prawn spaghetti with tomato, chilli and basil

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