Lemon basil: photo, useful properties, application

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

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 when dried. In summer, fresh leaves are used, and in the cold season, pre-prepared seasoning is used. The aroma of lemon basil, the use of which will be discussed in the article, rarely leaves anyone indifferent. Today, this plant is widely used 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, it is a storehouse of vitamins.

Basil grows well only in the warm season,when there is no frost. It is grown mainly through seedlings. Remember that the leaves should be collected before the period of its flowering. And dry the leaves in a dark, dry place, otherwise they will lose both taste and aroma. Fresh herbs can be used to decorate fruit jellies, mousses, salads, desserts and drinks, confectionery, which will give them a special flavor and piquancy with sourness. Housewives add it when preserving vegetables, at the time of making cheese, all kinds of drinks.

Lemon Basil: Recipes

The scope of culinary use of 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 colds, and also fights viruses, which is especially important in autumn and winter. In summer, a drink with basil will effectively quench your thirst, and thanks to its bactericidal properties, it will reduce the risk of poisoning from spoiled foods. Consider some recipes.

Drink

Bring 1 liter of water to a boil, before that thoroughly wash the fresh leaves of the plant, put 5 leaves in boiling water, let it brew for 10 minutes. You can add lemon to enhance the taste, honey and mint. It turns out a he althy and tasty drink for the whole family.

Ice cream

Buy 3 pistachio ice cream (optional) - take them out of waffle cups, put them in a bowl, refrigerate. Grind 4-5 basil leaves with a knife or blender, mix with 2 teaspoons of honey, syrup or jam. Attach toice cream, form balls with a spoon and arrange on plates. The dessert is ready, it is recommended to use it immediately.

Canned tomatoes and cucumbers

Summer is the harvesting season, and cucumbers and tomatoes are everyone's favorite vegetables. 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 pastas. When making the sauce, add grated basil leaves with s alt and be surprised at the resulting flavor combination. Pesto sauce is made by mixing chopped nuts, cheese, basil, lemon juice, pepper and garlic. The color of the finished dish is rich green.

Soups and hot dishes

10-15 minutes before the dish is ready, chop the lemon basil leaves, mix with s alt and black pepper, add to the pan. This recipe is especially relevant for borscht, stew, pea soup, meat dishes. If fresh seasoning is not available, dried preparations will do. Basil pairs perfectly with beef and pork chop, poultry and game, and fish.

Salads

Wash the leaves, soak in vinegar, place in a dark place, after 14 days remove, finely chop, then pour into a bottle of olive oil and use as a dressing for vegetable salads with cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage.

Sliced leaves are part of such salads as the well-known "Caesar"and Greek. Leaves go well with cabbage, legumes, tomatoes.

Puff salad recipe with beets

Grate boiled beets on a coarse grater, do the same with cheese. Cut spinach leaves into strips. The salad is laid in layers: beetroot - spinach - cheese - basil, sprinkle each layer with drops of lemon juice before applying a new one.

French fries

Potatoes should be peeled, cut into strips, mixed with s alt and pre-chopped lemon basil leaf, fried. It is recommended to serve with cheese or sour cream sauce.

Basil: beneficial properties

This plant is both a delicious spice and a medicine.

Useful properties of lemon basil:

• Antimicrobial and bactericidal effect.
• Helps reduce body temperature.
• Reduces cholesterol, strengthens blood vessels.
• Contains vitamins A, B, C, essential oils.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Improves appetite and digestion.
• Has an antioxidant effect.
• Normalizes sleep, nervous system, calms.
• Helps cleanse the body, remove toxins.

Lemon basil, the properties of which we examined, is used in complex therapy in the treatment of colds and coughs. It is also effective in diseases of the oral cavity and gums. It has been scientifically proven that frequent consumption of it in meals reduces the risk of developing cancer. Dishes with its contents are shownpeople with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. An alcoholic infusion of the leaves will relieve itching and inflammation after being bitten by mosquitoes, flies, bees.

Basil in tea

Lemon basil leaves will help to diversify the taste of tea, as well as add useful properties to it. The uniqueness of this drink is that after drinking such tea, you, being in nervous tension, will fall into a state of rest. It will give you a feeling of peace. But if you are tired, lethargic and drowsy, you will feel cheerfulness and energy. According to ancient belief, basil is a kind of elixir of youth that will cope with any disease.

Modern doctors do not refute the beneficial properties of basil tea, which are:

• Normalization of the mental state.
• Strengthening the nervous system.
• Establishing the work of the gastrointestinal tract, liver.
• Fight against sleep disorders, insomnia.

Tea recipe

Pour unpackaged tea into a teapot, pour boiling water over it. 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 your immune system and say goodbye to colds.

Lemon basil: fragrance

You have the opportunity to see a photo of the basil in the article. Due to its persistent lemon smell, basil is often used in the creation of perfume compositions as an aromatic substance, as well as in the production of alcoholic beverages.liqueurs. Examples of perfumes that contain basil are: 10 Lavender Spice by Trish McEvoy, al01 by Biehl, Eau de Reglisse Liquorice by Caron, Ambre Topkapi, a masculine fragrance by Parfums MDCI.

Liquor

You can make a quality liquor with a mild taste yourself at home. For this you will need:

• a bunch of lemon basil;
• purified water - 0.5 liters;
• lemons - 4 pcs;
• sugar - 2 cups;
• food alcohol - 300 ml.

Grate lemon zest along with basil, mix. Pour the mixture with alcohol, close the lid tightly, leave to infuse for 14 days. After this period, mix sugar and water to form a syrup. Put all the ingredients into prepared bottles, store in the refrigerator.

Basil: contraindications

The tonic effect may have a downside. People who have expressed cardiovascular diseases should not use basil in order to avoid complications and deterioration of well-being. It is also not recommended to get carried away with this plant for pregnant women, mothers during lactation, people with high blood sugar.

Use in cosmetology

At home, lemon basil, the photo of which is presented in the article, can be used as a component in face masks, the purpose of which is to cleanse the skin of acne, inflammation, improve color and refresh. To relieve redness and reduceinflammatory processes, finely chop the fresh leaves 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.

Toning mask

Crush the basil leaves in a blender or use a fine grater to apply the resulting slurry on the décolleté, neck and face for 15 minutes. At this time, cover the accessible areas with cling film, which will increase the effectiveness, 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 blackheads. The only rule is regular systematic use and the absence of allergies. For cosmetic procedures, it is desirable to use fresh leaves without defects, stains and yellowness.

Storage conditions

For any purpose, be it culinary delights or beauty treatments, the plant is best used fresh, ideally only from the garden. If this is not possible, our tips will help preserve useful properties for a long time:

• In the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, the freshness of the plant will last for a week.
• Dry basil away from direct sunlight.
• Place the dried leaves in a glass jar, close tightly, put in a dark cool place. This supply can be used for 6 months.

How to grow yourself?

Vegetables and spices from your garden are the key to he alth andlongevity 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 supply of this plant, you should consider growing yourself.

Seeds are planted in seedling boxes in April to a depth of 1 centimeter, keeping a distance of 6 centimeters between rows, covered with foil. The optimum temperature for germination is 25 degrees. The first shoots appear after 14 days. Mineral fertilizers are used for top dressing. Landing in open ground is carried out at the end of May, when the danger of cold and frost has passed. The landing site should be chosen with protection from the winds and good lighting, without shade and with organic fertilizers.

Caring for the plant does not cause much trouble - the soil must be periodically loosened, hilled, weeded, watered and mulched. High soil moisture is contraindicated, it is fraught with the appearance of spots on the leaves. If the weather does not please with warmth, it is necessary to arrange fertilizing with potassium sulfate, use covering material. Periodically remove the top shoots and flower stalks.

So, lemon basil is indispensable as a seasoning or addition 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.