In many peoples of the world, this plant is used in cooking not only as a seasoning, but is also the main component of dishes. The reason for the popularity lies in the unique taste and properties that are preserved even during drying. In summer, fresh leaves are used, and in the cold season, pre-prepared seasoning. The aroma of lemon basil, the use of which will be considered in the article, rarely leaves anyone indifferent. Today, this plant is widespread as a seasoning.
Lemon basil got its name not by chance. This is due to its taste and smell identical to lemon, lemon balm and camphor. This species is not as common as green and purple. A plant in the form of a bush 35 cm high has smooth small leaves of light green color, which are a culinary masterpiece and a highlight of dishes. Among other things, this is a storehouse of vitamins.
Basil grows well only in the warm season, when there are no frosts. They grow it mainly through seedlings. Remember that leaves should be collected before the flowering period. Dry the leaves in a dark, dry place, otherwise they will lose both taste and aroma. Fresh greens can be decorated with fruit jellies, mousses, salads, desserts and drinks, pastries, which will give them a special aroma and piquancy with sourness. Mistresses add it when preserving vegetables, at the time of making cheese, all kinds of drinks.
Lemon basil: recipes
The culinary scope of the basil is wide - from soft drinks to meat, fish dishes and soups. The plant has a medicinal composition, has a tonic effect on the body, prevents the development of catarrhal infections, and also fights viruses, which is especially important in autumn and winter. In summer, a drink with basil will effectively quench thirst, and due to its bactericidal properties, it will reduce the risk of poisoning by spoiled foods. Consider some recipes.
Drink
Bring 1 liter of water to a boil, before this, thoroughly wash the fresh leaves of the plant, put 5 leaves in boiling water, let it brew for 10 minutes. Lemon can be added to enhance flavor, honey and peppermint. It turns out a healthy and tasty drink for the whole family.
Ice cream
Buy pistachio ice cream (you can do another) - 3 pieces, remove them from waffle cups, put in a bowl, put in the refrigerator. Grind 4-5 basil leaves with a knife or a blender, mix with 2 teaspoons of honey, syrup or jam. Attach to the ice cream, shape with a spoon the shape of the balls and place on plates. The dessert is ready, it is recommended to use it right away.
Canned Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Summer is the harvesting season, and cucumbers and tomatoes are the favorite vegetables of all. When preserving, add whole basil leaves to the jar in a proportion equal to other greens - dill, parsley, currant leaves, which will give the marinade a rich taste and remove the bitterness of cucumbers.
Sauce
Tomato sauce is an integral part of dishes such as pasta and pasta. When making the sauce, add the grinded basil leaves with salt and be surprised at the resulting flavor combination. Pesto sauce is prepared by a mixture of chopped nuts, cheese, basil, lemon juice, pepper and garlic. The color of the finished dish turns saturated green.
Soups and hot dishes
10-15 minutes before the dish is ready, chop the leaves of lemon basil, mix with salt and black pepper, add to the pan. This recipe is especially relevant for borsch, stew, pea soup, meat dishes. If there is no fresh seasoning, dried billets are also suitable. Basil goes well with beef and pork chop, poultry and game meat, as well as fish.
Salads
Wash the leaves, pour vinegar, place in a dark place, remove after 14 days, chop finely, then pour into a bottle with olive oil and use as a dressing of vegetable salads with cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage.
Shredded leaves are part of salads such as the well-known Caesar and Greek. Leaves go well with cabbage, legumes, tomatoes.
Beetroot Puff Salad Recipe
Wipe the boiled beets on a coarse grater, do the same with the cheese. Cut spinach leaves into strips. The salad is laid in layers: beets - spinach - feta cheese - basil, each layer before applying a new sprinkle with drops of lemon juice.
French fries
Peel the potatoes, cut into strips, mix with salt and a pre-chopped lemon basil leaf, fry. Serve recommended with cheese or sour cream sauce.
Basil: useful properties
This plant is both a tasty spice and a medicine.
Useful properties of lemon basil:
- Antimicrobial and bactericidal effect.
- Helps reduce body temperature.
- Lowers cholesterol, strengthens blood vessels.
- Contains vitamins of groups A, B, C, essential oils.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Improves appetite and digestion.
- It has an antioxidant effect.
- Normalizes sleep, the nervous system, calms.
- Helps cleanse the body, remove toxins.
Lemon basil, the properties of which we have examined, is used in complex therapy in the treatment of colds and cough. It is effective in diseases of the oral cavity, gums. It is scientifically proven that frequent use of it in dishes reduces the risk of cancer. Dishes with its contents are indicated for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. An alcoholic infusion of leaves will relieve itching and inflammation after being bitten by mosquitoes, flies, and bees.
Basil in tea
To diversify the taste of tea, as well as add useful properties to it, lemon basil leaves will help. The uniqueness of this drink is that, having drunk such tea, you, being in a nervous tension, will fall into a state of rest. He will give a sense of peace. But if you are tired, listless and sleepy - you will feel vigor and energy. According to ancient belief, basil is a kind of elixir of youth, which will cope with any disease.
Modern doctors do not refute the beneficial properties of tea with basil, which are:
- Normalization of the mental state.
- Strengthening the nervous system.
- Establishment of the gastrointestinal tract, liver.
- Fighting sleep disorders, insomnia.
Tea recipe
Unpacked tea to fill in a teapot, pour boiling water. Let it brew for 5 minutes. Then put lemon basil in tea (2-3 leaves), close the lid. After 10 minutes, the drink can be consumed. If such tea drinking becomes a tradition at least once a week, then you will strengthen the immune system and say goodbye to colds.
Lemon basil: aroma
Photos of the basilica you have the opportunity to see in the article. Due to the persistent lemon smell, basil is often used in the creation of perfumery compositions as an aromatic substance, as well as in the production of alcoholic liquors. Examples of perfumes, which include basil, are: 10 Lavender Spice from Trish McEvoy, al01 from Biehl, Eau de Reglisse Liquorice from Caron, Ambre Topkapi - men's composition from Parfums MDCI.
Liquor
You can prepare high-quality liqueur with a mild taste on your own at home. This will require:
- a bunch of lemon basil;
- purified water - 0.5 liters;
- lemons - 4 pcs.;
- sugar - 2 glasses;
- food alcohol - 300 ml.
Rub the zest of the lemon on a grater with basil, mix. Pour the mixture with alcohol, close the lid tightly, leave to brew for 14 days. After this period, mix sugar and water to form a syrup. In the prepared bottles, place all the ingredients, store in the refrigerator.
Basil: contraindications
The tonic effect may also have a flip side. People with severe cardiovascular disease should not use basil to avoid complications and poor health. It is also not recommended that pregnant women, mothers during lactation, people with high blood sugar, be overly carried away by this plant.
Application in cosmetology
At home, lemon basil, the photo of which is presented in the article, can be used as a component in the composition of face masks, the purpose of which is to cleanse the skin of acne, inflammation, improve color and refresh. To remove redness and reduce inflammation, chop the fresh leaves finely to make 1 tablespoon, pour a glass of hot water, after 15 minutes using a cotton pad, wipe the skin, and after half an hour - rinse with cold water.
Tonic mask
Grind the basil leaves in a blender or, using a fine grater, apply the resulting slurry to the decollete, neck and face for 15 minutes. Cover the accessible areas with cling film at this time, which will increase efficiency, then wash with cool water. The procedure should be repeated 2-3 times a week.
Masks with basil will tighten the skin, relieve acne problems, normalize the sebaceous glands, cleanse pores, and help get rid of black spots. The only rule is regular systematic use and the absence of allergies. For cosmetic procedures, it is advisable to use fresh leaves without defects, spots and yellowness.
Storage conditions
For any purpose, whether it’s culinary masterpieces or cosmetic procedures, it is better to use the plant fresh, ideally - only from the garden. If this is not possible, our tips will help to preserve useful properties for a long time:
- In the refrigerator on the lower shelf, the freshness of the plant will remain for a week.
- Dry the basil away from direct sunlight.
- Place the dried leaves in a glass jar, close tightly, clean in a dark cool place. This stock can be used for 6 months.
How to grow yourself?
Vegetables and seasonings from your garden - the key to health and longevity of the whole family. Given the beneficial properties and taste, lemon basil will become a favorite of your table all year round. To provide yourself with a reserve of this plant, you should consider the issue of self-cultivation.
Seeds are planted in seedlings in April to a depth of 1 centimeter, observing a distance of 6 centimeters between rows, covered with a film. The optimum temperature for germination is 25 degrees. The first sprouts appear after 14 days. Mineral fertilizers are used for top dressing. Landing is carried out in open ground at the end of May, when the danger of cold and frost is over. The landing site should be chosen with protection from the winds and good lighting, without shade and with organic fertilizers.
Caring for a plant does not cause much trouble - the soil needs to be loosened periodically, spud, harvest weeds, water and mulch. High soil moisture is contraindicated, this is fraught with the appearance of spots on the leaves. If the weather is not happy with heat, it is necessary to arrange top dressing with potassium sulfate, use covering material. Periodically remove the top shoots and peduncles.
So, lemon basil is indispensable as a seasoning or an additive to almost any dish - from light desserts to meat and hot dishes. In addition to culinary delights, it is a medicinal and cosmetic product, it is added to tea, it serves as the basis for perfume compositions. Growing does not require much trouble, and the benefits of the plant are undeniable.