What Is Basil Used For In Cooking

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A guide to basil including ideas for using in the kitchen along with recipes.

basil

Basil is a wonderfully fragrant herb that is especially popular in Italian cooking. It is added to the majority of tomato-based sauces for pasta, offering a sweet and pungent flavour, and is also one of the main ingredients of the olive oil and herb pasta sauce "pesto".

There are many varieties of basil, each with their own distinct flavour, that are used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Basil is native to India and Persia but is also commercially cultivated in the Mediterranean.

Basil is a member of the mint family and is very similar in appearance. The most popular type of basil that is used in cooking is sweet basil but some people like to cook with lemon basil, clove basil or cinnamon basil.

The name of the herb "basil" comes from the Greek word meaning "king" or "royal", reflecting that this herb was regarded extremely highly. In Italy, basil was symbolic for love and was sometimes used as an aphrodisiac.

Basil is nutritious

Basil can be consumed in larger quantities than some of the stronger flavoured herbs and therefore may be of a higher nutritional value.

Basil is an excellent source of iron, calcium, potassium and Vitamin C, all of which are hugely beneficial to one's health. It also contains smaller amounts of Vitamin A, magnesium and manganese.

Health benefits of basil

Basil is recognised for its soothing and sedative properties and is useful to calm the nervous system and aid digestion. As well as this, basil is said to:

Treat respiratory and chest problems such as bronchitis or coughs.
Relieve cold and flu symptoms.
Inhibit the growth of certain bacteria.
Protects cells from oxidation and damage.
Act as an anti-inflammatory and relieve rheumatic and arthritic conditions.
Prevent the progression of the above illnesses.
Improve blood flow through the body by relaxing the muscles and blood vessels.
Prevent heart disease and failure.
Act as a digestive.
Ease stomach cramps and pains.
Treat nervousness, anxiety, depression, exhaustion and tiredness.
Relieve migraines.
Increase the production of breast milk.
Repel insects.
Treat insect bites.
Cure insomnia.

Buying and storing basil

Basil can be bought from your local supermarket, fresh or dried. Fresh basil sold already cut, will keep for a few days if refrigerated and wrapped in a damp paper towel.

Fresh basil is much more aromatic and flavoursome than dried basil and gives a completely different taste to your dishes. Always try to use fresh basil when possible, although you may have to plan your meals and buy the herb fresh accordingly.

Ideas for cooking with basil

Basil goes well with any type of tomato dish, whether it is hot or cold and it is also the main ingredient of the Italian pesto sauce.

Other ideas for using basil in the kitchen are:

Sprinkle fresh basil over the top of your pizza.
Add to tomato-based pasta sauces just before serving.
Add to soups.
Sprinkle torn basil over a tomato and mozzarella salad.
Add to stir-fried vegetables.
Use in a marinade with garlic and olive oil.
Add fresh leaves of basil to your salad.

Basil Recipes

Below is a selection of recipes that include basil as one of their main ingredients including chilli chicken with fried basil, fish curry with coconut and basil and pasta with basil and tomato sauce.

This recipe is a great way of spicing up chicken drumsticks, which are served with delicious deep-fried basil leaves. Loosely based on the recipe for Thai "pad kra pao....

This is a variation of the classic pesto sauce. It contains all of the typical ingredients of an Italian pesto yet this recipe calls for the addition of butter or margarine also.

This recipe for garlic and basil dip should be prepared a few hours in advance for the best results. This is an excellent sauce, especially for those that are also keen on pesto.

Pasta with tomato and basil sauce

Homemade tomato sauce always tastes better than from a jar. Make sure to add plenty of fresh basil and enjoy. This is a great recipe for pasta lovers.

This dish is exciting, exotic, creamy and hot. It's a great way of cooking cod and is delicious served with rice. This recipe proves that a fish curry is just as tasty as a....