15 Fresh Recipes Featuring Basil—That Don't Include Tomatoes!

By Marie Viljoen
August 28, 2019
Amy Neunsinger
From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, here are our best recipes featuring fresh basil. Don't expect caprese salads because the one thing you won't find here are tomato and basil combinations. Instead, try basil with chicken, peaches, shrimp, corn, and more.
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Justin Walker

Basil is the quintessential summer herb whose strong aromas and complex flavors are concentrated in its tender and deliciously delicate leaves. There is the famous and tall Genovese basil, whose generously-sized green leaves are most often used in pesto; the dark, contrasting opulence of sweet purple basil, which looks wonderful scattered across ripe slices of yellow peach; the anise-perfumed Thai basils that add an undertow of quick and seasonal authenticity to a summer stir fry; and the diminutive but intense Greek basils whose petite leaves provide sparkle and vivacity in an otherwise ordinary fruit salad.

Despite basil's range of flavor and form, the herb is often relegated to a predictable pairing with tomatoes. While we love tomatoes and this classic combination (in its multitude of interpretations), we love basil in more unexpected dishes, too. It deserves more.

Basil coaxes surprising nuances from diverse foods, enhancing diary, grains, fruit, vegetables, and meat. The herb also knows how to make a summer libation sing with flavor. Last but not least, basil adds layers of complexity to dishes and this versatile herb is switches effortlessly between sweet and savory.

Not convinced, yet? Pressed for time? Crush some basil and summer fruit and top with sparkling cold lemon soda; stir basil into a bowlful of comforting spicy rice; transform asparagus into a main event with an intensely lemony egg yolk and basil dressing; and make the most of fleeting summer produce by combining sweet corn and basil in a rich ice cream. Or simply perfume a carafe of table water with a few sprigs of basil an hour before dinner.

Read on to find 15 delicious recipes for basil with no tomatoes!

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Blackberry Plum Smash with Basil

Ren Fuller
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The late summer acidity and sweetness of plums and blackberries fruit combine with basil's oils in a mocktail that is deliciously-thirst quenching. Muddle the ripe fruit with basil and top with lemon soda.

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Garden Salad with Herbs and Sour Cherry Dressing

Mikkel Vang
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Forget a sad bowl of boring leaves. In this vital summer side dish basil leaves are mixed with assertive herbs like tarragon and mint in a mouth-watering salad dressed with sour cherries quick-pickled in sherry vinegar.

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Corn and Avocado Salad with Goddess Dressing

Petrina Tinslay
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When you fantasize about Cobb salad, this recipe, featuring crisp bacon, luscious avocado, freshly-shucked corn and half a cup of basil will make those dreams come true. And keep hunger at bay all day.

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Peach Chiffon Pie with Candied Basil Leaves

Marcus Nilsson
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Basil has a remarkable affinity for stone fruit, and perfect summer peaches are a particularly fine pairing. Transform basil leaves into aromatic confections by dipping them in egg white and sugar to grace a no-bake chiffon pie.

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Turkey-Pesto Meatball Soup

Lennart Weibull
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Pesto is more than pasta. In a hearty soup, use the classic parmesan and basil paste to transform turkey meatballs into mouthfuls of comforting goodness.

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Spicy Green Rice and Shrimp

Con Poulos
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Cupfuls of raw basil and cilantro are whizzed-up with garlic, chile, and fish sauce to create a pungently flavorful counterpart to soothing rice and quick-cooked shrimp. Never mind supplements! Your immune system will thank you for this bowlful.

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Spicy Basil and Chicken Stir Fry

Justin Walker
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Holy basil and chiles are best friends. This simple stir fry relies on umami-rich soy and oyster sauce to coat caramelized chicken before wilted basil envelops the quick sauce with its iconic fragrance.

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Seared Strip Steaks with Braised Pepper and Onion

Marcus Nilsson
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Summer's best produce, led by red peppers, creates a gorgeous, basil-brightened red sauce to accompany seared steak. Confession: Yes, we added tomatoes.

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Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto and Basil

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When you need something fast, seasonal, and memorably good, grill summer peaches and accompany them with thinly sliced prosciutto and fresh basil leaves.

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Quinoa Tabbouleh with Basil

Marcus Nilsson
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You will not miss the traditional bulgur in this gluten-free tabbouleh based on toasted quinoa. The aromatic trinity of basil, mint, and parsley paired with astringent lemon make the transition nourishingly seamless.

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Asparagus with Almonds, Goat's Cheese and Basil

Johnny Miller
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Lemon lovers, this is for you. The zest, segments and juice of lemon make a familiar dish of succulent asparagus transcendent. A creamy egg yolk dressing, crisp almonds, and freshly sliced basil leaves add balance, crunch, and aroma.

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Shrimp and Basil Glass Noodle Stir Fry

Christopher Testani
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When you have a bunch of basil, add it at the end to this a classic noodle stir fry. Their last-minute addition preserve their essential oils and perfumes the whole dish.

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Sweet Corn and Basil Ice Cream

Naho Kubota
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Farmers' market corn and just-picked basil create an intensely seasonal, unusual, and unforgettably good ice cream.

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By Marie Viljoen