For many centuries in India, the basil plant has been revered as sacred. Its use for domestic and medical purposes is more than extensive. For example, it is believed that the addition of several fresh leaves of this plant to food or water kills pathogenic microflora. The smell of a flower when cultivated at home in a pot helps to avoid infections and SARS. Therefore, in eastern countries, they not only carefully look after the home-made basil, but also burn candles next to it with the belief that it will bring happiness to the house.
What properties does basil have? The use of its decoction at high temperature is based on the fact that the plant incorporates phytonutrients and essential oils. They have a strong bactericidal, antifungal and disinfectant effect. Therefore, basil is used for respiratory diseases, asthma, bronchitis at different stages, as well as for tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases.
What diseases can basil still help? Its use to strengthen the immune system, with headaches, anti-aging and eye diseases is recognized as justified. The combination of useful properties is an indication for the addition of this plant to the composition of various dishes. Basil goes well with mint, tarragon, marjoram, parsley, coriander. The leaves of the plant are part of the Italian pesto sauce, in Central Asia they are used as an independent snack, and in some countries as a means for flavoring olive oil.
The latter is due to the fact that there is anise, clove, menthol, and lemon basil. The use of fresh leaves when creating culinary masterpieces is possible if this plant takes root on your windowsill, because the birthplace of basil is Central Asia, so it does not grow very well in open ground. At home, he has enough sunny place on the window and appropriate care.
In what daily dish can I use basil? Its use in cooking is quite extensive. For example, you can make a highly nutritious and healthy omelet. For him, six mushroom caps are fried in olive oil until tender, four slices of ham are added to them, cut into strips one centimeter wide. Then four eggs, two tablespoons of milk are mixed, salt and six small tomatoes are cut, cut into two. The mixture is poured onto mushrooms, abundantly sprinkled with fresh basil and baked to a golden omelet.
And, of course, there are many salads in which basil is present as an ingredient. Its use in Caprese gives a special taste. For cooking, you need to take 0.3 kg of mozzarella in whey, 4 tomatoes, 20 grams of fresh basil leaves, 4 tablespoons of olive oil and sea salt (pepper to taste). Tomatoes and cheese are sliced and spread, alternating with basil. Olive oil is added , you can put a little green onion, oregano, black olives, as well as pepper and sea salt. It turns out a delicious and very healthy dish.