One Ingredient, Many Ways: Basil

Get the method for Grilled Pound Cake with Basil-Plum Compote » Basil is the quintessential garden plant: equally happy to sprawl out over the expanse of a walled-in plot or flourish in a box on the window sill. And it’s the perfect summer herb: its bright, slightly bitter savor perfectly complements other hot-weather produce, from raw tomatoes to grilled zucchini to roasted red peppers.

We were making pesto by the gallon, and over the course of a few hours’ work, with Robert Plant’s sultry whine belting out of a portable boom box, everything—our hands, our t-shirts, our suntanned legs—would become steeped and stained with the plant’s green color and rich perfume. But the herb, a member of the mint family, has more than 40 different varieties that range in taste from mild and floral to pungent and spicy. In recent years, I’ve become particularly enamored with basil’s sweet side, pairing it with deep-flavored fruits like strawberries and peaches for desserts and cocktails.

With that in mind, I developed a basil-plum compote to serve over slices of grilled pound cake. See the recipe for Grilled Pound Cake with Basil-Plum Compote » Sweet Basil Recipes Basil Gelato Sweets like a creamy gelato bring out basil’s floral notes. Food 52: Wild Berry Basil Panna Cotta This creamy, quivering dessert gets a boost of flavor from fresh berries and basil.

Savory Basil Recipes Classic Basil Pesto There are a million variations on the pesto theme, but this version sticks to the basics: basil, parmesan, pine nuts, and olive oil. Summer Panzanella This Italian bread and tomato salad gets a bit of floral, spicy taste from fresh basil.

Sweet Miso Corn Cakes with Basil Parsley Pesto A chunky basil and parsley pesto makes the perfect topping for summery corn cakes. Pizza Margherita (Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pizza) Like all classic Neapolitan pizza, this version is topped simply with sauce, thinly sliced fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves that wilt in the heat of the oven.

Italian Beef Sandwich Dried basil enhances the spice mixture that gets rubbed onto the beef in this Chicago classic. Eggplant Parmesan This classic southern Italian dish uses fresh basil to add a punch of savor.

Grilled Montauk Squid with Thai Basil Salad Thai basil pumps up the dressing for the salad that tops this grilled seafood dish. Hor Mok (Steamed Thai Fish Custard) Steamed in banana leaves, this flavorful, creamy fish dish is flavored with basil and kaffir lime leaves.

Green Mango Salad with Grilled Beef Torn Thai basil and cilantro leaves flavor a refreshing and hearty mango and beef salad. Cold Pea and Basil Soup Plenty of basil adds punch to a refreshing, vibrantly green summer soup.

Grilled Chicken with Red Onion Jam Grilled chicken marinated with basil, rosemary, thyme, and parsley tastes especially delicious topped with a sweet and tangy onion jam. Basil Drinks Basil Julep Fresh basil replaces the more traditional mint in this summery julep. Sotto Chinotto Thinly sliced basil leaves add color and herbal essence to this refreshing Italian cocktail.