The Herb Basil

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Herbs and spices form an integral part of every cuisine, especially if the dishes are Asian or Italian. Basil is a herb commonly used in the Southeast Asian dishes. It is an important part of the exotic delicacies prepared in countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Combodia, Laos and Vietnam. Sweet basil is specially used in Italian dishes to add that special aroma. The herb is native to India and Africa and as of now there are around 150 species of basil found in different parts of the world. It has a history dating back to more than 5000 years. Since it is being used for such a long time, it’s natural that it should have some interesting facts associated to it. One of the most intriguing one is that this herb was spotted at the place where Helen and St. Constantine had first discovered the Holy Cross. The word basil means ‘King’ in Greek and many cooks and reputed chefs in the world indeed consider this herb the king of all herbs for the exquisite flavor it adds to every dish.

What is the classification of Basil?

Kingdom: Plantae
Unranked: Angiosperms
Unranked: Eudicots
Unranked: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ocimum
Species: O. basilicum
Binomial name: Ocimum basilicum

What are the culinary uses of Basil?

• Basil is the last ingredient that is added in any cuisine because when added during cooking the flavor gets destroyed. It is more commonly used in freshly prepared dishes.
• When used in dried form the flavor becomes weak and smells like hay or coumarin.
• In the famous Italian dish Pesto (green oil and herb sauce) basil is used in good amount along side garlic, pine nuts and olive oil. This dish was made by ancient Romans thousands of years back was introduced to the world in the recent times (1980s).
• The Mediterranean basil cultivars that are prominently used in different dishes are Purple Ruffles, Cinnamon, Lemon, Mammoth, Genovese, African Blue and Globe.
• Fresh or dried basil leaves are used to pep up the flavor of Chinese soups and sauces
• This herb is used in thick soups- Chinese: ??; pinyin: g?ngt?ng i
• Fried chicken in China served with deep fried basil leaves is a favorite combination
• Ice cream or chocolate truffles are given interesting flavors in Thai cuisines by adding basil leaves to the cream or milk
• Apart from leaves, basil flower buds are also edible and are used for giving sharp flavors

What are the health benefits of Basil?

• Polyphenolic flavonoids such as Vicenin and Orientin known for their anti-oxidant protection properties were traced in basil leaves during a vitro laboratory studies.
• The leaves constitute many essential oils like citronellol, eguenol, citral, limonene, linalool and terpineol that are known for their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.
• Low in cholesterol, many rich nutrients, minerals and vitamins are present in these leaves
• Various chemical compounds helpful in building immunity and promoting growth are present in these leaves.
• It is rich in vitamin A, croptoxanthin, beta-carotene, zea-xanthin and lutein that are helpful in eliminating oxygen-derived free radicals and ROS (reactive oxygen species) stimulating the aging process
• Zea-xanthin present in high amount in basil leaves is a yellow colored flavonoid carotenoid compound that gets especially absorbed inside the retinal macula lutea and protects the harmful UV rays from reaching the retina by filtering it.
• It is rich in Vitamin A, essential for protecting body from cancer and in Vitamin K that strengthens bones
• Basil is rich in minerals such as manganese, copper, potassium and magnesium
• The leaves are rich in iron which is an important constituent of hemoglobin that gives red color to the red blood cells

How can you preserve Basil for round the year use?

Basil plant is easy to grow and can be grown in small pot in your kitchen garden. Excess of basil leaves can be stored in the freezer or dried. The best way to keep basil in good condition before storing them is to blanch these leaves in boiling water for several seconds and immediately rinse them with ice cold water to retain the flavor and color. When dry, keep these leaves in the freezer in a zip lock bag or airtight container. If you intend to store these leaves for longer duration, then coating them with a layer of extra virgin oil can help retain their color. In case, you want to preserve it in dried form, hang these leaves along with the stems in well ventilated room away from direct sunlight for 6 to 7 days. Crumble these dried leaves and store them in dry and cool place in an airtight container.

 

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