Featured Herb
Growing Basil (and eating it)
Ah Basil. It would have to be one of my favourite herbs. Mix with fresh tomatoes to create bruschetta, add to your favourite pasta dish, or top a pizza. Throw it in salads or cook it up in a spicy chilli basil stirfry. It’s such a versatile herb, with a flavour that most people love.
My first ever plant was a basil tree that I planted in a random garden bed without giving it too much though. After a few months it went to seed, and before I knew it, I had basil plants popping up all over the place. It was from then that I started to dip my toe into building my first veggie garden, and while my gardens have continued to evolve over the years, basil still remains one of my favourite things to grow and eat.
There are many varieties of basil, but the most commonly used one to flavour dishes is known as sweet basil. Basil is best used fresh, and conveniently is very easy to grow in the garden all year round. You can plant it direct (it’s a great companion plant for tomatoes), or grow it in pots.
If you live in a tropical area, I find that I have no problem growing basil all year round. Simply pop some seeds in a pot, or throw them out into the garden, and within a few weeks your basil seeds will have sprouted and you’ll be making pesto in no time.
If you live in a cooler climate, you may want to start your seedlings off indoors first before moving them to a sunny spot outside. Basil generally thrives well in sunny areas, but also needs water to flourish. You can use mulch to help retain moisture if needed.
Begin using the leaves as soon as the plant is large enough to spare some. Collect from the tops of the branches, cutting off several inches. Handle basil delicately so as not to bruise and blacken the leaves.
Personally I pick my basil as needed, but if you have a lot and want to store some, you can freeze it for use in sauces, soups and pesto. To freeze basil, puree washed leaves in a blender or food processor, adding in water to create a thick paste. Pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze. Then pop them out and store in labelled freezer bags.
Basil health benefits
Holy basil, originally from India but now grows in Australia, West Africa, and some Middle Eastern countries is commonly used to help with anxiety and stress. It is considered a sacred plant by the Hindus and is often planted around Hindu shrines. The Hindu name for holy basil, Tulsi, means “the incomparable one.” It is also offered referred to as “The Queen of the Herbs” for its restorative and spiritual properties.
All parts of the holy basil plant act as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is natural substance that helps your body adapt to stress and promotes mental balance.
According to the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, holy basil has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties comparable to diazepam and antidepressant drugs. One study found that people who took 500 milligrams (mg) of holy basil extract each day felt less anxious, stressed, and depressed. People also felt more social.
Other studies also found reduced:
- Stress
- sexual problems
- sleep problems
- Forgetfulness
- exhaustion
Ayurvedic practitioners recommend drinking holy basil as tea using the leaves. And since it’s caffeine-free, it’s okay and even recommended to drink daily.
Basil Recipes
Holy Basil Tea Recipe
From: DIY Natural
INGREDIENTS
fresh holy basil leaves, about ¼ cup
hot water
a cup, a spoon, some ice, and a saucer
honey or other sweetener
METHOD
- Wash the holy basil leaves well and then place in the cup.
- With the back of a spoon, press the leaves against the side of the cup. This bruises them and allows the essential oils to escape.
- Pour hot (not boiling) water over the leaves and stir.
- Place the saucer on top of the cup, right side up. This will trap the essential oils and prevent them from escaping.
- Place a few ice cubes on the saucer. This will, in effect, make rain. Condensed steam will fall back into the cup and take the essential oils collected on the bottom of the saucer with it.
- Wait about 5 minutes. Remove the saucer, strain the leaves, and sweeten the tea as you like it.
- Drink warm. This tea can also be iced.
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Fresh Basil Pesto
From: Simply Recipes
Basil pesto darkens when exposed to air, so to store, cover tightly with plastic wrap making sure the plastic is touching the top of the pesto and not allowing the pesto to have contact with air. The pesto will stay greener longer that way.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (can sub half the basil leaves with baby spinach)
1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts (can sub chopped walnuts)
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 teaspoons)
1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
METHOD
1 Pulse basil and pine nuts in a food processor: Place the basil leaves and pine nuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a several times.
2 Add the garlic and cheese: Add the garlic and Parmesan or Romano cheese and pulse several times more. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.
3 Stream in the olive oil: While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream. Adding the olive oil slowly, while the processor is running, will help it emulsify and help keep the olive oil from separating. Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor.
4 Stir in salt and freshly ground black pepper, add more to taste.
Toss with pasta for a quick sauce, dollop over baked potatoes, or spread onto crackers or toasted slices of bread.
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Bruschetta
INGREDIENTS
1 cup tomatoes – use cherry tomatoes for extra sweetness, diced
Handful of basil
Pinch of salt and pepper
¼ Red onion, finely diced
Olive oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Pinch of sugar
1 Mix diced tomatoes, red onion and basil in a bowl
2 Add in a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar
3 Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and a pinch of sugar
4 Mix and let sit for 5 minutes
5 Meanwhile, toast some bread
6 As soon as the bread is toasted, rub a glove of garlic over one side.
7 Top with bruschetta mix
Basil Feature Photo by Lavi Perchik on Unsplash.
Basil and Tomato Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
Pesto Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash
