Building on a classic Italian salad this variation combines heirloom tomatoes, white nectarines, mozzarella and fresh basil on a plate. Serve as a starter course or a lunchtime salad along with crusty baguette.

This chicken recipe combines the flavours of southern of the Mediterranean – basil, tomatoes, olive oil and pine nuts into a versatile main dish. You can serve Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites (chicken with caramelized tomatoes) hot or at room temperature. This recipe is simple to prepare, uses fresh ingredients and it is great for a picnic – a perfect summer dish.

My recipe for Tomatoes Provençales is inspired by the typical cuisine, but it is a lighter version with a zucchini-herb stuffing (farce) intended as a pre-dinner bite. The tomatoes filled and baked and then served as an appetizer with cocktails.

This recipe for Zucchini, Basil Velouté is suitable for even the most novice of cooks. As there are only a few ingredients, small, sweet zucchini and fresh basil are key. I like to serve this soup chilled with a dollop of creme fraiche and snipped basil on top.You could add croutons or diced zucchini instead. Not counting calories? Add a cup of half and half to the chilled soup before serving. The bright green color and luscious texture make this a lovely starter for a dinner party or a family meal.

Chicken breasts can be much more interesting if stuffed and rolled, especially as the cooking method I use helps them to stay moist and succulent. There are various options for the stuffing, but my favourite is goats’ cheese with Serrano ham and a few basil leaves.

A warm, hearty and filling soup that can be served on a summer day as easily as it can be on a cold winter’s eve.