Written by Basil – from the family of mints (Lamiaceae). It is noted for its intense flavor. Sweet basil has a predominate anise like taste (or black licorice).
Picollo Basil & Petunia Color Bowl
Basil is widely used in Italian and Asian cooking. Basil used in Asian cooking tend to be spicier than sweet. There are an estimated 50 to 150 species of basil including cultivars and hybrids.
Basil is easy to grow, but its a somewhat temperature sensative plant, not liking cold. Here its an annual, but can be cultivated inside if potted away from drafts, etc. Basil is fairly pest free, but can suffer from Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that will quickly kill younger basil plants. Basil is also a great companion plant to tomatoes, said to enchance the flavor of the tomatoes. Basil during the hot months will tend to bolt – pinch the flowers off immediately and use as you would the leaves. The best way to “store” basil is by freezing in a small ice cube tray – clean thoroughly, press into tray, pour EVOO over each cell, freeze. EVOO takes a couple of days to freeze completey, then pop the cubes out into a ziploc, label & put back in the freezer. This process works wonderfully for oregano and thyme, too.
Basil is the basis of pesto sauce (a green Italian oil-and-herb sauce), its other two main ingredients are olive oil and nuts. In Asia, they soak basil seeds until they become gelatinous and use them in drinks and desserts. Another variety is lemon basil, it has a strong lemony smell and flavour very different from those of other varieties because it contains a chemical called citral.
Basil has a intersting history, the name itself is Greek, (basileus), meaning “king”. Basil is originally native to Iran, India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. Basil seeds become gelatinous when soaked & used in Asian drinks & desserts.
Interesting Facts:
It is a symbol of love in present-day Italy, but represented hatred in ancient Greece.
African legend claims that basil protects against scorpions
Health related facts:. Basil has been shown to decrease the occurrence of platelet aggregation and experimental thrombus in mice. It is traditionally used for supplementary treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India. Basil extract has been reported to have antioxidant activity
LOVE the tip for freezing basil, but was unfamiliar with EEVO (now I know it’s extra virgin olive oil – duh).
And, can’t wait to try out some of those yummy recipes you always have! Take care, lady!
Sorry the EVOO is a term I picked up from Rachel Ray – thanks for reading!