197 basil recipes

Basil recipes | 397 Indian basil recipes, tulsi recipes |

basil recipe collection. Indian basil recipes. Basil, or Tulsi, is an herb that is used for culinary purposes i.e. for cooking. Even though associated mostly with Italian or Mediterranean cuisines, it actually originated in India. Apart from these cuisines even Thai and Vietnamese cuisines use basil to flavor their food. In India, basil is also known as Tulsi. Here, it is not only considered as a culinary herb but also a religious one and is extensively used due to its healthy properties as mentioned in the Ayurveda.

Basil in Indian Cooking

Even though tulsi as such is not used in daily Indian cooking, but due to its medicinal properties and the fresh flavor, it is used in various drinks and tea preparations. Our palate is accustomed to the pleasant taste of tulsi and a great way of having it is to have Tulsi Water or Tulsi Tea. Both these drinks have a fresh tulsi taste but are made slightly different – one by infusing and one by boiling. A hot Herbal tea is the perfect way to rejuvenate anyone who has a cold. The anti-viral properties of tulsi combined with fresh ginger is an age old Indian treatment for common cold.

Basil Recipes for snacks 

Basil provides freshness to any dish it is added to and also gives it that certain edge that makes it irresistible. The most basic snack that everyone knows is a Tomato and Basil Bruschetta! This winner combination, even though Italian, is now served at many restaurants due to its increasing popularity! You can experiment with toppings and make Ricotta Basil Crostini as well.

Party snacks are those which are fun to look at and to eat. Cheesy Corn and Pesto Mini Pizza is the perfect party starter that way! Pesto sauce is made with basil, nuts, olive oil and garlic and makes a great substitute for pizza sauce.

Healthy Basil Recipes

Basil can be used to jazz up so many healthy recipes. The sweetness of green peas is really complimented by the taste of basil in this Low Salt Green Pea and Basil Soup. This soup is healthy because it is fibrous and is really good for people with high blood pressure. Vegetable and Basil Soup is a medley of different vegetables where basil lends a very aesthetic vibe and a nice mouth feel.

Apart from soups where basil is grinded up and crushed, sometimes it is also used to dress salads and starters. Bean Sprouts and Cucumber Salad with Lemony Basil Dressing has a crunchy vegetables dressed with zesty lemon and fresh basil sauce which is complimented with bean sprouts. The taste of basil leaves gets much more enhanced when torn into pieces. Adding these to a Walnut and Cherry Tomato Salad makes all the difference in the world, to the taste, texture and to the health quotient.

International Basil Recipes

Most of us associate basil with Italian food and the first thing that comes to our mind is Pesto! Toss this sauce with some pasta of your choice, with a little cheese on top, you'll get Pesto Penne or pesto spaghetti or whichever your choice is. The basic Margherita pizza, which is representative of the Italian flag, utilizes basil to represent the green.

Even Thai food makes use of this wonder ingredient. Thai Green Kodri is a classic example of how basil, coconut and lemongrass come together to form a medley of flavors. Laksa Soup, a Malaysian delicacy, is a mix of coconut milk and vegetable broth with the garnish of fresh basil leaves.

Hope you liked this collection of vegetarian basil recipes, scroll down below for more.


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Salads are ambrosia to health-conscious folks, as they offer variety in texture, flavour and colour without any worrisome ingredients! This Italian-Style Tossed Salad here is a healthy mix of assorted low-cal veggies, tossed with an exotic honey and basil dressing. The best part is that this heart-friendly fare can be put together in no time at all!
tomato basil bruschetta recipe | Indian style tomato basil bruschetta | bruschetta with tomato and basil | with step by step photos. Italian bruschetta is a classic starter enjoyed by many. Learn how to make bruschetta with tomato and basil. Ingredients to make Indian style tomato basil bruschetta are easily available in India and this is an easy recipe to follow. Crostini, a classic combination of bread, olive oil and garlic which has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, is also called "bruschetta" around rome. Although unique to Italy, similar tomato basil bruschetta are eaten in Greece, France and in particular Spain. To make tomato and basil bruschetta, cut the baguette into 10 thick slices and keep aside. Make an olive oil and garlic mixture and keep aside. Make a topping with finely chopped tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Divide the topping into 10 equal portions and keep aside. Grease the baking tray with olive oil, place the bread slices on it and brush some olive oil-garlic mixture on each french bread slice and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°c (360°f) for 4 to 5 minutes or till the bread slices are crisp. Spoon out 1 portion of the topping mixture on each toasted slice and serve immediately. Good bruschetta relies on the quality of the olive oil and the amount of garlic used. The former can never be too good while the latter should not be restrained. Cubes of firm ripe red tomatoes marinated in olive oil, combined with fresh aromatic basil leaves topped on crispy bruschetta, is a classic Italian bruschetta starter that can liven up any dinner party! Tips for tomato and basil bruschetta. 1. Cut the baguette into thick slices only. Thin slices will break easily. 2. Use olive oil and not any other cooking oil to enjoy the authentic flavours of bruschetta. 3. Serving them immediately is a must, else they may turn soggy. Enjoy tomato basil bruschetta recipe | Indian style tomato basil bruschetta | bruschetta with tomato and basil | Italian bruschetta | with step by step photos and video below.
Pack this exotic Tomato, Basil and Feta Cheese Sandwich for lunch or enjoy as a filling snack anytime. This sandwich appears very exotic because of the interesting combination of ingredients in the stuffing. Feta cheese, popularly used in Mediterranean cuisine, has a slightly salty taste that goes well with the tomatoes and basil.
Fresh, crisp lettuce, boiled channa, paneer cubes, tomatoes, boiled penne pasta, olives, and spring onions make a vibrant-looking garden fresh salad. The olive oil infused with garlic, fresh basil, and chili is tossed in with the salad for a lovely treat! 
An italian kitchen is incomplete without a jar of pesto. A lip-smacking combination of basil, cheese and nuts, pesto serves as a tasteful dressing for many a preparation, from pastas and salads to even stuffed bread rolls. Although commonly available at stores these days, classic italian pesto made at home is certainly a notch above these.
Fusilli is a short twisted pasta from southern Italy usually served with a spicy tomato sauce. Originating from naples, it is also known as "eliche" or "propellers" for its quality of trapping particles of the sauce and "propelling" them to the tongue. This recipe uses fusilli tossed along with baby corn, walnuts with a sprinkling of fresh basil and parsley. An enticing blend of flavours! toss this pasta as close to serving time as possible as it tastes best then.
Along with Lemon Grass Spicy Vegetables , this makes a lunch one would give an arm and a leg for! Kodri takes longer to cook than rice, but it will be worth all the effort if cooked correctly with patience and care. Remember that 1 cup yields 2½ cups of kodri. Bayleaf and lemongrass enhance the flavour of this dish, while the fresh herbs impart an exotic tinge. Do not cook after adding the freshly chopped herbs as the flavour gets destroyed when you cook them! it would be wise to add the coconut milk powder also after removing the kodri from the flame as it may also become sticky.
Long grains of rice interspersed with colourful and chunky veggies, and lusciously flavoured with coconut milk and red curry paste. The ultimate touch to the Baby Corn and Mushroom Curry Rice is the addition of lemon rind and basil leaves, whose aroma is indelibly locked in by cooking the rice wrapped in a banana leaf.
This recipe goes to prove that healthy food can also be fun and interesting! Veggies are stuffed in small lettuce squares that are rolled up to make wraps. While that is tempting in itself, the use of ginger and garlic further enhances the flavour of this vegetable-loaded dish, while tofu and bean sprouts are health boosters. Soya sauce is a processed food that is high in sodium and preservatives; hence I have used just 1 tsp to flavour the filling. Red chilli flakes spice up the flavour – but you can modify the quantity used as per your liking. So, here we go, another low calorie snack that can be had without any guilt or fear of an increasing waistline!
The true highlight of this dish is the paste that is made using red chillies, onions and other well-chosen ingredients. You can make it fresh for a better taste; or to save time, you can make it in bulk and deep-freeze to use as and when required. Healthy ingredients like tofu, mushroom and other veggies enhance this recipe’s health quotient while a basket of creatively-combined ingredients make it a delight for the taste-buds. If you do not like tofu, you can replace it with low fat paneer. Thai cooking is incomplete without coconut milk but as a matter of fact it is high in fat; I have therefore restricted its use to ½ cup as compared to the original recipe that calls for almost 3 times more. Another key ingredient in Thai cooking is lemon grass, which can be used liberally without any fear of calories… this is the secret behind the refreshing touch of most Thai recipes.
Sliced french bread is topped with a freshly-made basil paste, chopped tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, and cheese. Try using olive oil in the pesto for a lovely original italian flavor.
Interesting colours, textures and flavours make this spicy dish quite enjoyable.
potato and spring onion soup recipe | Indian spring onion potato soup | Thai style spring onion soup with potatoes | with 25 amazing images. potato and spring onion soup recipe | Indian spring onion potato soup | Thai style spring onion soup with potatoes is a satiating soup which is best enjoyed on a cold evening. Learn how to make Indian spring onion potato soup. To make potato and spring onion soup, combine the cornflour and 1 tbsp of water in a small bowl, mix well and keep aside. Heat the oil in deep non-stick pan, add the spring onions whites, basil and red chillies and sauté on medium flame for 1 minute. Add the carrot, potatoes and mushrooms and sauté on medium flame for 2 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and salt, mix well and cook on medium flame for 5 minutes. Add the cornflour-water mixture and soy sauce, mix well and cook on medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally. Switch off the flame, add the lemon juice, coriander and spring onion greens and mix well. Serve hot. A classic recipe from Thai cuisine, the Indian spring onion potato soup has a very unique mouth-feel and appetising flavour. The unique mouth-feel comes out of a combination of grated potatoes, chewy mushrooms and a range of crunchy veggies like carrots and spring onions. Herbs, red chillies and other ingredients like lemon juice and soy sauce make this Thai style spring onion soup with potatoes a mouth-wateringly tasty treat that leaves your taste buds yearning for more! You can also try other interesting recipes like the Potato and Chana Salad, and the Milano Minestrone. Tips for potato and spring onion soup. 1. Grate the potatoes just before making the soup, else they might discolour due to oxidation. 2. Basil leaves are authentically used in Thai cuisine, but if you wish you can replace them with mint leaves. Enjoy potato and spring onion soup recipe | Indian spring onion potato soup | Thai style spring onion soup with potatoes | with step by step photos.
This delicious olive, cheese and tomato topped bread is perfect for parties, buffets and makes a welcome appetizer. It also makes a perfect accompaniment to pasta, soup or any other continental main course.
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