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Roasted Red Pepper Panini
Lunch American

Roasted Red Pepper Panini

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine basil, buttery spread, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor or blender; pulse until almost smooth.
  2. 2 Spread 2 slices bread with buttery basil spread; top with spinach, roasted pepper, mozzarella, and remaining bread slices.
  3. 3 To cook in a panini press: Preheat a panini press according to the manufacturer's instructions. Add sandwich; cook until golden and crisp, according to the manufacturer's instructions, 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining sandwich.

By Country Crock

Quick and Easy Grilled Cheese
Lunch

Quick and Easy Grilled Cheese

4.4

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Layer Cheddar slices onto 1 piece bread. Sprinkle parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, and dill over the cheese; top with remaining bread. Spread the top of sandwich with 1 tablespoon butter.
  2. 2 Heat a skillet over medium heat. Gently flip sandwich, buttered-side down, into the hot skillet; spread remaining 1 tablespoon butter on the top. Cook until cheese has melted, about 3 minutes per side.

By jofdo

Spicy Tomato Bisque with Grilled Brie Toast
Lunch

Spicy Tomato Bisque with Grilled Brie Toast

4.3

Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Preheat the oven or a toaster oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spread the Brie cheese onto two slices of bread, and top with remaining slices. Place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 8 minutes, turning once halfway through. Cut in half, and set aside.
  2. 2 In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the tomato puree, red pepper flakes, black pepper, basil, and sugar. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes.
  3. 3 Whisk in the cream cheese until well blended, then stir in the milk. Heat through without bringing to a boil. Stir in the fresh basil, and remove from the heat.
  4. 4 To serve, place each sandwich half into a separate bowl. Ladle soup over each one into the bowl. Serve immediately.

By amanda1432

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Lunch

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

4.5

Prep
15 min
Cook
Total
15 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine chicken, apple, walnuts, mayonnaise, basil, dill, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until all ingredients are blended together.
  2. 2 Spread chicken mixture onto bread and place a slice on top to form a sandwich. Repeat with remaining slices and mixture. Cut sandwiches into quarters and serve.

By Isara

Vegan Broccoli Soup
Lunch

Vegan Broccoli Soup

4.8

Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Blend cashews and 1 cup vegetable broth in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute.
  2. 2 Pour the remaining 4 cups vegetable broth into a large pot; add potatoes and onion. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli and basil; return to a simmer. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
  3. 3 Stir cashew mixture into soup; add salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and immediately remove from heat. Transfer about half the soup to a blender; blend until smooth. Return blended soup to pot and stir well. Serve immediately.

By Nakkeya

Favorite Basil Tomato Soup
Lunch Italian

Favorite Basil Tomato Soup

4.4

Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
35 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Stir together tomatoes and chicken broth in a large saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes.
  2. 2 Stir in basil and sugar; reduce heat to low and continue cooking until basil is wilted, about 5 minutes.
  3. 3 Stir cream into tomato mixture; add butter and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until butter is completely melted, 5 to 7 minutes more.

By JulieO

Honeydew-Grape Tomato Salad
Lunch

Honeydew-Grape Tomato Salad

3.3

Prep
30 min
Cook
Total
270 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine the honeydew melon, grape tomatoes, and green bell peppers in a large bowl. Whisk together the vegetable oil, lemon juice, sugar, basil, and pepper in another bowl, and pour over the honeydew mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 48 hours, before serving, stirring occasionally.

By S Fiegen

Zoodle Caprese Salad
Lunch Italian

Zoodle Caprese Salad

4.5

Prep
20 min
Cook
Total
20 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Cut zucchini into zoodles ("noodles") using a spiralizer (fitted with the large shredding blade); cut zoodles into smaller pieces.
  2. 2 Combine zoodle pieces, mozzarella, tomatoes, and vinaigrette in a large bowl; mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. 3 Toss in arugula and basil just before serving.

By Jeannette

Italian Lentil Salad
Lunch Italian

Italian Lentil Salad

5.0

Prep
10 min
Cook
35 min
Total
75 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Bring water to a boil in a saucepan; add lentils. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about 35 minutes. Drain and and cool to room temperature.
  2. 2 Divide lentils among 4 salad plates; layer with mozzarella cheese slices, prosciutto, and fresh basil. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over each salad.

By schmerna

Owen's Mozzarella and Tomato Salad
Lunch Italian

Owen's Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

4.4

Prep
10 min
Cook
Total
30 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Chop tomatoes in half, then slice finely; arrange on four plates. Trickle a tablespoon of olive oil over each serving, and sprinkle with black pepper. Lay slices of cheese over tomatoes, and strips of basil over cheese. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

By Dell

Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches
Lunch

Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches

4.5

Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  2. 2 Brush olive oil over both sides of each eggplant slice. Arrange eggplant slices onto a baking sheet.
  3. 3 Cook eggplant slices under the broiler until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side.
  4. 4 Toast split rolls under the broiler, cut sides up, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. 5 Stir yogurt, cheese, and garlic together in a small bowl until smooth; spread onto the rolls. Divide eggplant slices between the rolls; add tomato slices and basil to complete sandwiches.

By Brittney Tun

Spinach and Orzo Salad
Lunch

Spinach and Orzo Salad

4.6

Prep
20 min
Cook
Total
80 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil and white pepper. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.

By Christine R

Open-Face Mozzarella Sandwich
Lunch Italian

Open-Face Mozzarella Sandwich

4.6

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay 4 slices of Italian bread out on the prepared baking sheet; top each piece of bread with a tomato slice, a basil leaf, and a slice of mozzarella cheese.
  2. 2 Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese has melted, about 7 minutes. Drizzle each sandwich with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

By Julia Monroe

Stacked Tomato and Burrata Salad
Lunch Italian

Stacked Tomato and Burrata Salad

4.9

Prep
15 min
Cook
Total
15 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Place a tomato slice onto a plate and season with sea salt and black pepper. Spread Burrata cheese over tomato slice, top with torn basil leaves, and drizzle with olive oil. Repeat the layering process with remaining ingredients, finishing with a tomato slice.

By John Mitzewich

Summer Soup of Butternut and Corn
Lunch

Summer Soup of Butternut and Corn

4.4

Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the garlic and onion in the oil until soft and translucent. Add the butternut squash and corn and cook for 3 more minutes. Pour the stock into the Dutch oven and bring to a boil; season with basil and black pepper.
  2. 2 Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until the squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat and using a hand blender, or working in batches with a counter top blender, process the soup until smooth. Stir in the yogurt and nutmeg.

By the butterfly

Chunky Pizza Dip
Lunch Italian

Chunky Pizza Dip

3.9

Prep
Cook
Total

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat oil and garlic in a large saucepan or Dutch oven until garlic starts to sizzle and turn golden. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and oregano; bring to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, until sauce is thick enough for dipping, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.

By USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

Cold Spaghetti
Lunch American

Cold Spaghetti

4.0

Prep
20 min
Cook
10 min
Total
30 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, oil, and sugar in a blender or the bowl of a food processor; blend until smooth. Transfer sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
  2. 2 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
  3. 3 Pour cold sauce over spaghetti; toss to coat. Top servings with Parmesan cheese.

By Cheryl

Contadina® "Creamy" Tomato Soup
Lunch

Contadina® "Creamy" Tomato Soup

2.7

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook shallots and red pepper flakes until softened, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  2. 2 Stir in remaining ingredients, except basil. Puree in saucepan with a hand-held immersion blender or puree in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to saucepan and heat through.
  3. 3 Top with fresh basil before serving, if desired.

By Contadina