What is Basil?
The herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds or flowers are used to flavor food or in medicine. Other uses of herbs include cosmetics, dyes and perfumes. The name comes from the Latin Herba , which means "green crops". Basil, also known as Sweet Basil , is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which also includes mint, oregano, Catnip, Rosemary and Sage. Most culinary varieties are ocimum basilicum , while the related and popular lemon basil is ocimum xcirrriodorum .
History. The name comes from the Greek word for the king, Basileus . Basil may have been created in India, but since then it has spread to many Asian and Mediterranean countries, to Africa and Central and South America, and is commercially grown in California. Many traditions about the forces of herbs have to do with love and posthumous life.
Description.d as a Mediterranean basil that distinguishes it from other varieties, especially Thai, is known for SVOu diversity. The leaves change in size; either thin and extended or rounded; smooth or serrated; Green, purple or varied. Flowers can be white or purple colors and the plant itself may differ from 8 inches to 3 feet (about 20 to 91 cm) in height.
ocimum xcitriodorum is a small plant with white flowers, smaller leaves than ocimum basilicum and characteristic lemon aroma. There are also other fragrances such as cinnamon, anise and liquorice; And other varieties grow in Thailand, India and Africa. New species are often created.
horticulture. Although perennial in warmer climate, Basil is in most of the United States sensitive to frost. Can be planted from seeds or rooted from chains. Since there was no lemon basil, the propagajeda option is cut.
pruning promotes bushy growth and Basil should be regularEzan and tangled. Some gardeners consider this to be ornamental and culinary plants. Basil can sometimes be successfully transferred inside the winter.
food and other use. The fresh Mediterranean basil is the main part of Genovese Pesto Alla (Green Pesto) and also appears in Pesto Rosso (Red Pesto), which also includes tomatoes. The leaf is also used as a spice in tomato sauce, pizza, insulata cappage, salad dressing and cooked vegetable meals. The dried leaf is located in a mixed spice called "Italian spices" and sometimes is part of a bouquet of Garni. Thai basil, which differs from Mediterranean varieties, is used in Thai green curry and as an ornament.
Basil is also used in desserts, including ice cream and sorbet, pudding and zabaglione. The seeds are used to thicken the consistency of certain Thai foods. The essential oil is used in perfumes.
protection. Basil should be regularly harvested to support re -growth, but it is particularly important to perform the final harvest before the temperature drop because the plant is not resistant. After the harvest, many gardeners prefer to freeze herbs, rather than dry, because the taste and color are better preserved. One can simply undress, clean and freeze the leaves for baking before transfer to the bags.
alternatively chop the leaves with olive oil and, if you want, other ingredients Pesto Genovese in addition to cheese and freezing in bags. You can also process the leaves with olive oil or a little water and initially freeze in the trays of ice cubes and then transfer them to the bags. If you want to dry basil, tie the stems of several plants together and hang in a dark dry place.