Basil

Basil is an aromatic spice, as well as a medicinal plant, sometimes also called "rayhan". Since ancient times, basil has been famous for its beneficial properties. It was used not only in medicine, but also in cooking.

The homeland of the basilica is Iran and India, as well as other Asian countries, where this plant has been used in cooking and medicine for over 5 thousand years. It is noteworthy that the word "basil" is translated from Greek as "king." In the kitchens of Greece and the Mediterranean, this spice is considered the first among the fragrant herbs. In Caucasian cuisine, basil accompanies almost any meat dish, and its seeds are used to flavor salads and soups.

In ancient Rome, believed that the use of basil brought wealth, success and prosperity, and in India, the spice was sacred. In Romania, and to this day, there is a romantic tradition: a girl who accepts an offer to marry her lover will respond with a sprig of spicy basil.

In the world there are more than seventy species of this plant, the most popular of them is fragrant or ordinary basil with bright green leaves resembling a boat with a pronounced peppery smell and a slightly bitter but fresh taste. The second place in the popularity rating is occupied by basil with rich dark purple leaves, but the flavor of this variety is not so intense and bright. There is also a variety of basil with lemon scent and aromas of cloves, aniseed, camphor with delicate blue leaves and even an unexpected caramel-vanilla look. Thanks to this variety, basil is widely used in cooking when cooking soups, salads and even desserts.

Useful properties of basil

Basil has a unique composition. The leaves contain a huge amount of tannins and minerals and essential oils. The plant is replete with vitamins P, B2, C, routine, carotene, phytoncides, saturated with fragrant volatile substances. Spice has excellent restorative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamins C and P, contained in the tender leaves, strengthen the blood vessel walls, and vitamin A affects the condition of hair, nails and skin.

Basil helps relieve spasms of blood vessels, muscles of internal organs, favorably affects the work of the stomach and nervous system, reduces the level of uric acid, which is the culprit for the formation of stones. It is also useful in the treatment of various infectious diseases and colds, asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia. It is necessary to include basil in the diet of people with weak immunity or undergoing complex operations, because it helps to restore and strengthen the body.

Fragrant basil is low-calorie greens, 100 grams contain about 30-40 calories.

Basil essential oil: benefits and uses

Essential oil of basil, in fact, as the culture itself, from which it is made, rightly bears the name of "royal". It was fixed behind him more than a thousand years ago. The invigorating, deep, tart-spicy aroma of basil is an excellent tonic.

Aromatic oil is obtained by distillation with a pair of leaves and the tops of the stems from the flowering period.

Basil oil is almost transparent, flowing with a slight yellow tint with an airy, many-sided, spicy-sweet aroma with a barely noticeable tartness and bitterness, with fresh citrus notes and a woody base.

This oil has active tonic properties. It clarifies and sobers the mind, quickly eliminating nervousness, and restores emotional and psychological endurance and concentration.

Basil oil raises the spirits and often allows you to find a way out of difficult life situations, helps to cope with mental stress, adds confidence in your strength, and fights chronic fatigue.

Oil perfectly regulates blood circulation and increases blood pressure, effectively copes with migraines and headaches, weakness or dizziness. Essential oil of basil has strong antispasmodic properties, regulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves the symptoms of rheumatism and muscle damage.

In the cosmetology area, basil oil is used in skin care products to improve the structure of the hair and give it shine. In everyday life, it is used as a means to scare away insects and remove the effects of their bites.

However, the plant has contraindications. Do not include basil in your diet for people with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, thrombophlebitis, vein thrombosis, bleeding disorders, during pregnancy and lactation.

Basil in cooking: application

Basil is one of the universal herbs. It is used both independently and in conjunction with other types of greenery, as well as in the composition of sauces. Dried spice in a tightly closed container can retain its smell for about 3-6 months, but fresh basil does not tolerate long-term storage.

Due to the fact that the key value of basil is its delicate smell, which cannot withstand heat treatment, it is recommended to add it a couple of minutes before being ready to hot dishes or ready-made cold dishes. The exception is pizza Margherita and Italian bread with basil and tomatoes.

Tomatoes with mozzarella and basil

Composition:

1. Tomatoes - 500 gr.
2. Mozzarella cheese - 200 gr.
3. Wine vinegar - 1 tbsp.
4. Olive oil - 100 ml.
5. Basil - 1 large bunch
6. Salt and pepper to taste
7. Cooking:
8. Wash the tomatoes, remove the stalks and cut into slices about 0.5 cm thick.
9. Take mozzarella cheese, drain the brine and cut it into slices.
10. Take a beautiful dish, put tomatoes on it, salt, pepper and pour vinegar. Place mozzarella circles on top.
11. Wash and dry the basil with a paper towel. Tear off the leaves and chop them finely. Sprinkle the tomatoes evenly and sprinkle with oil again.
12. Fragrant salad with tomatoes and basil
13. Composition:
14. Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
15. Garlic - 2 cloves.
16. Lettuce leaves - 6 pcs.
17. Olive oil - 2 tbsp. l
18. Basil - 1 large bunch
19. Lemon juice - to taste
20. Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking:

• Basil wash and dry, tear off the leaves, peel the garlic. Put everything in the mortar and pound well. Add lemon juice to taste, olive oil and let the brew stand for 10-15 minutes. Wash, dry and pickle the leaves of the salad into large pieces.
• Cut the tomatoes into thin slices. In a salad bowl, mix the tomatoes, lettuce leaves and sauce.

Bruschetta with tomatoes and basil

Composition:

1. Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
2. Bread (ciabatta) - 4 pieces
3. Garlic - 1 clove.
4. Olive oil - 1 tbsp. l
5. Wine vinegar - 0.5 st. l
6. Basil - 1 large bunch
7. Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking:

Bread cut into sticks about 1 cm thick and dry in a dry frying pan with 2 sides. Peel the garlic and cut it in half, then thoroughly rub each bread piece with it. Basis for bruschettas ready.

Now you need to cook the stuffing. Wash tomatoes, remove the skin. To do this, cut the top of the tomato into 4 pieces, then lower the tomato for a couple of seconds in a pan with boiling water, remove and cover with cold water. Cut the tomatoes, remove the seeds and chop into cubes. Chop the basil very finely. Take a deep bowl and mix the tomatoes, basil, olive oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. Let the fragrant filling stand for a bit. Put the stuffing on a piece of bruschetta and decorate with a leaf of basil.

Basil is a spicy green that has been used in different countries of the world since antiquity. The plant is used to this day in medicine, cosmetology and cooking. Essential oil of basil takes a special place. It concentrates all the beneficial properties of fragrant greens.

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