Basil with its rich green colour and fresh taste is commonly referred to as a ‘royal herb' or as the ‘king of herbs'. This ‘kingly' herb has been around since the past 5000 years and is a native of India. It is also commonly used in Italian and South East Asian cuisine. In Italian cooking it is used to make pesto paste by combining with pine nuts, parmesan cheese and garlic. There are more than sixty varieties of basil which fall under 3 categories- sweet, purple and bush. Each has their own characteristic taste- lemon, anise and cinnamon. These variations can be used to modify or enhance the taste of a recipe.
The taste of the leaves depends on the type of cultivar. It combines well with other herbs and can be used to season vegetables, soups and meat. In gourmet dishes even the flower buds of the basil plant are used as they have a subtle flavour.
Basil seeds (from sweet basil) are known as sabja seeds. When soaked in water they become gelatinous and are used in drinks and desserts like faluda and sherbet. These have a cooling effect and help relieve acidity.
Fresh basil should be added to a dish just before serving, as cooking destroys its flavour and nutritional content. While dried basil may be easier to store and has a longer shelf life, drying causes a loss of nutrients and change in flavour. 100g of the fresh leaves has just 22 calories; it contains 295 mg of potassium and 1.6 g of fiber. It is also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Vitamin B6. Due to its nutritional profile, basil is a healthy choice and can be used to replace fatty and salty seasonings.
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting. However, those taking blood thinners (Warfarin) should not have high amount of Vitamin K at any given time.
Vitamin A contains Beta Carotene which helps maintain the cell lining. It is also an antioxidant which prevents free radical damage. Vitamin C present in Basil is also a powerful antioxidant.
The flavonoids and essential oils give basil its health benefits. In small amounts, they are found to be beneficial in treating nausea, indigestion, constipation, motion sickness and breathing problems.
Basil oil is antibacterial and antimicrobial in nature, volatile oils like estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene, all capable of restricting the growth of numerous harmful bacteria, including listeria, staphylococcus, E. coli, yersinia enterocolitica, and pseudomonas aeruginosa. (K. Carović-Stanko, S. Orlić, O. Politeo et al., "Composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils of seven Ocimum taxa," Food Chemistry, vol. 119, no. 1, pp. 196-201, 2010)
Basil is anti-inflammatory as it provides relief from problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis. (B Ali, N Wabel, S Shams , A Ahamad, S Khan, F Anwar. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review, doi:10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.007). Holy Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), is extensively used in Ayurveda. Recent studies have shown that Tulsi helps in dealing with metabolic stress and lowers blood pressure and lipids. Some studies have shown reduction in type 2 diabetes on treatment with holy basil (Wang Z, Wang J, Chan P. Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Traditional Chinese and Indian Medicinal Herbs.Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2013;2013:343594. doi:10.1155/2013/343594.) It also shows beneficial effects on memory and cognitive function as it has anxiolytic (an agent/ medication that inhibits anxiety) and anti-depressant properties.
Basil makes a good house or garden plant since they are easy to maintain. Trim budding heads regularly to encourage the growth of new stems for fresh leaves.
Get creative with basil in your cooking; you can add chopped fresh basil leaves to leafy greens or vegetable salads. They can even be made into a side dish with feta cheese, red pepper, olives and a dash of olive oil. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil on whole-wheat pasta with a tomato based sauce. You can even make infused water by adding fresh basil leaves to cucumber slices in a pitcher of clear water. While making vegetable or fruit juices, basil leaves can be crushed and added to the blend. For colds and coughs, Holy Basil (Tulsi) with ginger, pepper, lemon grass and honey can help relieve blocked respiratory passages.
Interesting fact: Thai basil is steeped in milk or cream to create ice cream or truffles!