I just love bocconcini cheese (or raw mozzarella) ...tomato....and fresh basil....sliced with olive oil & balsamic vinegar drizzled on top...... I have two basil plants at the moment....anyone have a similar fresh recipe I can try?

I love a dish similar to this, for a variation, in place of cheese add chopped raw garlic and sliced avocado.

You might try this one - but it makes a huge amount - I cut it in half and hold back a lot of the liquid from the artichoke hearts.

ANTIPASTO PICNIC SALAD

1 lb. mozzarella cheese, cut into ½ inch cubes
2 (6 oz) cans pitted ripe olives – drained
2 (6.5 to 7.25 oz) jars quartered marinated artichoke hearts (including the liquid)
2 bell peppers (red, green, yellow or orange) cored and cubed
1 8 oz chub Italian dry salami, cut into ½ inch cubes
¼ cup sliced fresh basil.

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to marinade. Stir occasionally.

This sounds really good, going to try it...thanks!

This is my favorite recipe for fresh basil or jarred pesto. I have a pot of basil growing. It's much cheaper to buy a plant of basil then to buy the fresh basil even if you don't plant it.

I take left over plain cooked spaghetti and stir fry it in a little olive oil, add grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese, diced tomatoes and lots of fresh basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Now I'm hungry.

Ya'll are killing me here!!! I love fresh basil 8) 8) 8)

Someone loaned me one of those Aerogardens. I have the basil collection growing right now, and have so much basil! I have made the OP's salad at least 3 times a week, but I'll try other recipes. I also love it fresh on home made pizza and have chopped it up and put it in pasta dishes. Yummy.

When in Taiwan, one of the yummiest things ever from the street vendors, was deepfried squid. Right before the squid is done, they toss in a handful of fresh basil. In and out, quicker than it takes to type "basil" and serve it on top of the squid in a paper cone with some special seasoning.

M

Pesto is one of my favorite uses for fresh basil. You can take 2 cups of fresh basil leaves, (packed) with about 1/2 cup olive oil in the blender. I use about 4-5 cloves of garlic and about a cup of parmesan cheese and mix until a good puree. Makes about a cup. You can use on pasta, mix in salad dressings, mayonaise, possibilities are limitless! What's great is you can keep in the refridgerator with a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper over the top. The top will darken, but the pesto is still good. If I have enough of my harvest, I make a plain batch with just basil and olive oil and make cubes of it in ice cube trays. You freeze the cubes and then wrap individually in the freezer ( I put a whole bunch in a freezer bag) and use throughout the year in soups and sauces. As you can see, I really love the stuff too!

what is OP?

fresh sliced mozzarella, sliced fresh tomatoes and slivered fresh basil sprinkled on top is my perfect summer salad. love it, love it.

Try some of that fresh basil in tomato soup. It is delicious. In fact I throw basil in lots of stuff; other soups, salads, etc.

Original Poster

ty

Thanks for the ideas, everyone!

I also love fresh basil on pizza. Lots of options out there to put with the basil on pizza, but my favorites are chicken, artichoke, calamata olives, feta, gorgonzola and of course motz. Top with fresh tomato.

M

Great ideas everyone! I was given a Basil plant which we planted...it was broken off at dirt level by the wind the first week we got it, DH banked the broken part that was still "hanging on" by a thread of stem with dirt and the wind got it again but we kept banking and now we have a lovely Basil plant just waiting for the next trauma...I haven't had the heart to cut his neck off! :roll: :lol:

Fresh mozarella, tomatoes, and basil salad - drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper is to die for, I agree.

My other favorite is a fresh summer sandwich: fresh mozarella, tomatoes, prosciutto, basil, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and salt and fresh ground pepper, all on a hearty bread. MmmmMmmm!!