50 ways to use your basil

(Photo credit: Darny)

Last week, while out celebrating a short work night with a friend/co-worker, I ran into a friend/customer of mine from another restaurant that I used to work at. He apparently has an overabundance of basil taking over his garden and he requested that I share some recipes so he could use up the crop.

While considering all of the ways that basil can be used, strains of Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" played through the background of my brain. I decided to write up a list of fifty ways to use up an abundance of this versatile herb. So here you go John, Fifty Ways to Use Your Basil ;-)

1. Chicken and basil cream sauce
2. Portobello bruschetta
3. Tomato and mozzarella salad
4. Basil beer bread
5. Chicken Caprese
6. Salmon burgers with basil mayonnaise
7. Roasted red pepper and tomato soup
8. Spinach and basil dip
9. Portobello and goat cheese pita
10. Pesto chicken salad
11. Garden fresh lasagna
12. Blueberry basil soda
13. Mango bruschetta
14. Garlic herb bread
15. Parmesan pork roast
16. Strawberry basil margarita
17. Basil pesto recipe
18. Heirloom tomato pie
19. Pesto olive chicken
20. Pesto bacon pizza
21. Basil infused lemonade
22. Grilled chicken with summer tomatoes
23. Baked snapper with chilies, ginger and basil
24. Rich and creamy tomato basil soup
25. Tomato basil pasta sauce
26. Basil goat cheese pizza
27. Basil shrimp
28. Simple basil syrup
29. Basil infused lychee lime pops
30. Meyer lemon and basil sorbet
31. Italian lemonade
32. Basil lime cooler
33. Fresh tomato, basil and garlic sauce over angel hair pasta
34. Whole wheat spaghetti with lemon, basil and salmon
35. Green goddess dressing
36. Watermelon, chili and basil ice pops
37. Corn and black bean salad with basil lime vinaigrette
38. Basil gnocchi
39. Basil butter
40. Honey basil cookies
41. Lemon lime basil shortbread cookies
42. Mozzarella basil bread
43. Sun dried tomato basil bread
44. Basil focaccia bread
45. Strawberry basil shortcakes
46. Mixed berry gazpacho with basil
47. Smothered yellow squash with basil
48. Thai beef with basil
49. Scallops with cream and basil
50. Roasted eggplant with basil

And for those of you who now have Paul Simon stuck in your head, here you go!