9 Ways to Eat Basil with (or for) Every Meal

Basil is a summer workhorse. It grows like a weed in windowsill gardens, smells like a dream, looks as good as it smells, and tastes even better. We put it in, on, and with just about everything, from Caprese salad (and all of its variants) and pesto to ice cream. Eat it sweet or savory, eat it hot or cold—whatever you do, grab a bunch from the grocery store or market (or your herb garden) and eat it!

Here are 9 ways to include basil in each and every one of your summer meals:

Start with a cocktail:

Basil-Vodka Gimlet by Oui, Chef

  

Make a dressing, infuse an oil, or blend into a sauce:

Roasted Tomato, Whipped Buratta, and Basil Oil Soup by inpatskitchen

 

Grilled Corn with Basil Butter by lisina

  

Amanda Cohen's Secret Weapon Stir-Fry Sauce (for Vegetable Fried Rice & More) by Genius Recipes

 

Basil Buttermilk Ranch Dressing by Tara O'Brady

 

 

Snip, layer, and chop it into sandwiches and stews:

Pan Bagnat: Le French Tuna Salad Sandwich by Waverly

 

Sun-Dried Tomato, Basil, and White Bean Burgers by Kendra Vaculin

 

Alice Waters' Ratatouille by Genius Recipes

 

Bring out basil's sweet side: 

Lemon Basil Sherbet by Sandy Smith

Photos by James Ransom, Bobbi Lin, Food52, Tara O'Brady, Karen Mordechai

What are your favorite ways to use basil? Share with us in the comments!