Basil useful properties
Ocimum basilicum. Basil is an annual herbaceous plant 30-40 cm high. Its homeland is South Asia, growing wild in the subtropics and tropics of America, Asia and Africa. As a spice, basil was known to the ancient Greeks called "ozymon".In the 16th century, the basil got to Europe and quickly gained popularity in cooking as a spicy plant.
In Russia, the basil appeared a century later and was first used more as a medicinal plant for the stimulation of appetite, with diseases of the stomach and respiratory organs.
Basil is mellified, it smells of carnations or roses. It can be grown in flower pots from seeds sown in March-April. On the window or on a bed it can be landed only in the middle of May, it does not tolerate frost.
Description: stalk is tall, branched with petiolate, pointed, small-toothed leaves of elongate-ovate form of green or purple. Mashed leaves produce a strong scent reminiscent of clove. Flowers white, pink or light purple, grow from the sinuses of the apical leaves and bracts in the wrong whorls. Blossoms in the summer. Propagated by seeds.
Composition: aboveground part contains essential oil, tannins, glycosides and sour saponin. Essential oil contains cineole, linalool, camphor, ocime, tannins, sour saponin and sugar.
Varieties
Different varieties of basil have a variety of coloring of leaves and a completely different flavor. A new cultivator is a tempter with large green leaves, as well as Ararat. There are purple novelties Osmin and Velvet and even black and purple Ruby of Cairo. Very beautiful basil Siam Quinn has huge inflorescences and is suitable for growing in flowerpots as an unusual decorative and spicy-flavoring plant.
Basil is thermophilic and we do not winter, so it should be grown in a one-year culture, preferably through seedlings. Sow basil is needed in April, transplanted into the open ground after the end of spring frosts in early June. Even better, he manages in a greenhouse. Sowing basil in the greenhouse must be done in early May.
Before the beginning of flowering, the greens are cut off and dried. It retains the flavor. It is better to grind it on a coffee grinder and store in the form of a powder, which should be used to refuel meat, fish, pasta. Similarly, you can use fresh leaves. You can put them in marinades, use when preserving.
The basilica , Yerevan, Spoon-shaped and proved to be very good.
Cultivation: Basil likes fertilized soil, loose, rather, light, nutrient-rich, warm sunny places. Propagated by seeds that are sown in March in greenhouses or in boxes. Then, when the seedlings reach a height of 8-10 cm, it is planted in the soil. Since basil is thermophilic, cultivate it in warm enough areas. With a decrease in air temperature to 12-15 ° C, plant growth stops, with minimal freezing it dies. Seeds germinate at a temperature of at least 15 ° C.At 20-25 ° C shoots appear 10 to 12 days after sowing. Plants develop well at temperatures above 25 ° C.
Bottle is removed during the flowering period so that part of the leaves remain on the plant. They need to be cut a little higher from the ground. The cut tops are dried in the shade so that it does not lose color. Within a year the crop can be harvested 2-3 times.
Basil photophile : shading increases the vegetative period, the leafiness and aromaticity of the plant decrease. It is better to place it after crops, under which large doses of organic fertilizers were applied, after cucumbers, peas, beans and beans. In a zone with a moderate climate under the basil it is necessary to make the ridge it contributes to a better warming of the soil. In autumn, for digging, organic fertilizers should be added, preferably manure at a rate of 5 kg / m2, compost, you can add superphosphate at a rate of 25 t / 2. In the spring the prepared ridge is loosened by a hoe to a depth of 10-12 cm, and on heavy soils they make a digging. Grow basil on greens by sowing seeds in the open ground when the soil is warmed to 15-1 ° C.You can get a crop in the middle belt only by pre-growing seedlings. Sowing, as well as planting seedlings, are carried out according to the scheme of 45x25-35 cm. To obtain seedlings, sowing is carried out in the second decade of March in pre-prepared boxes with fertile soil for the cultivation of seedlings. In the open ground seedlings are transplanted only in the second half of June.
Collection: shoots are cut before flowering. Dry them should be in the shade, in a well-ventilated place, tied in bundles.
Medicinal properties of : essential oil has a bactericidal effect. Basil has a beneficial effect on swelling, gastric and intestinal spasms, improves digestion. Since ancient times in folk medicine, basil has been used for flatulence, chronic inflammation and pain in the stomach, inflammation of the bladder, for the treatment of wounds, in the form of rinses with inflammation of the mucous membrane and so on. Used basil and for refreshing baths, and in the form of a decoction - with a cough.
In folk medicine, the leaves and stems of basil are used as an anti-febrile, emollient, diuretic, disinfectant. Together with other herbs it is used for aromatic baths, rinses and compresses, especially with long-healing wounds and eczema.
Basil contains valuable essential oil( 1.5%), saponin, tannins, organic acids, fresh - vitamin C, enzymes, minerals. Basil activates the activity of the stomach, promotes appetite, prevents flatulence, has an anticonvulsant effect, soothes nerves, improves kidney activity. This is a medicinal plant and spice.
Basil grass is recommended for pyelitis with the phenomena of dysuria, cystitis, whooping cough.
Infusion is prepared from 4-5 g of herb with 250 ml( strong dose) or 500 ml( a weak dose) of boiling water - this is a daily dose. Juice from fresh basil leaves is used for purulent inflammation of the middle ear, with hard-healing wounds.
In folk medicine, basil is used for rheumatism, headache, vomiting and amenorrhea;dry shredded grass in the form of snuff with prolonged runny nose to stimulate sneezing. Mucous infusion of seeds is applied in the form of compresses for inflammation of the eyes and for cracks in the nipples. The infusion of basil has a pleasant smell and is used instead of tea, for baths and poultices.
The aerial part of the basil collected during the flowering period is used as an aromatic and anti-inflammatory agent in kidney disease.
Basil is used for smoothing wrinkles and giving freshness to fading skin, as well as for the treatment of acne. To do this, 50 grams of finely chopped basil pour 250 g of olive oil and let it brew for seven days. Then strain and with the received solution to grease 1-2 times a day well cleared skin of the face. Basil is also used to rinse the mouth with gum disease and with toothache. To do this, 1 tablespoon finely chopped basil pour a glass of boiling water. Leave to stand for 10 minutes, then strain. To the liquid, add a teaspoon of vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. After eating, rinse your mouth with water and then with a prepared solution.
In the cooking of
There is no need to remind that eating fresh basil or using it in cooking has a beneficial effect on the human body, especially on the digestive system. Before serving, put fresh flower heads and basil leaves in the salad. Usually, basil leaves are added to the dish a few minutes before it is ready. They give an unmatched taste to fish, chicken and fried eggs, perfectly combined with peppers, eggplants and tomatoes.
To the basil has not lost its flavor and medicinal properties, it should be soaked in olive oil. In dried form, it is like taste and smell like a must and curry. In the UK, basil is grown in a room on the sill on the sunny side;in Europe it blooms in the courtyards.
Basil is an aromatic plant with a spicy smell. Its taste is slightly bitter, for a short time - sweet. Some types of basilica by smell resemble cloves or nutmeg and at the same time have peppery taste. In cooking, basil is added to all vegetable dishes, beans, peas, beans, soups, sauces, salads, dishes from tomatoes, spinach and sauerkraut. It perfectly complements the summer types of vegetables, improves the taste of soups, salads and second vegetable dishes. It is also used for marinating cucumbers and zucchini. Shredded basil leaves improve the taste of dumplings from liver, sausages and pork cutlets. Used for perfume vinegar( not many fresh sprigs of basil are placed in a bottle of vinegar), which gives a piquant taste to salads and white sauces. Basil is added to cottage cheese, butter, omelets and crab salad. In the Italian cuisine and in the cuisine of the southern Slavs, the basil takes a special place, where it is used to make dishes from spaghetti and sauces to them.
Basil is used for sour cabbage, pickling cucumbers and zucchini, crushed basil leaves are added to the dishes of pork, game, beef, salads from crabs. In Italy, basil with grated cheese is used as a seasoning for pasta.
Pesto sauce
To make it, you need 2 cups basil, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons hazelnut nuts, 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a food processor, combine all the ingredients, add 1 /4 glasses of hot water. This sauce is not heated, but mixed cold with pasta.
Soup with basil leaves
150g carrot, 150g turnip, 60g onion, 100g tomato, 60g butter, garlic clove, fresh basil sprig or a teaspoon of dry, pepper and salt to taste,1.75 liters of water. Peeled and washed carrots, turn finely chopped. Melt half the butter in a saucepan, put the vegetables in it and stew them for about 20-25 minutes. Slice tomatoes fried in oil, add garlic and put in broth with vegetables. Cook for another 25-30 minutes. Before serving on the table in the soup, add finely chopped fresh basil or a spoonful of dry basil. You can serve soup with grated cheese.
Tea
Tea composition and way of its preparation:
Tea balsam: basil herb, peppermint leaves - 1 part( h), herb thyme - 0.5 h, black tea, green tea - 5 h 5 teaspoonsh. .) mixture - on the teapot, insist in the heat for 5-10 minutes. Drink with sweets or honey. The taste is pleasant, the smell is fragrant.
Healing properties: tones up, stimulates appetite, stimulates digestion.
Essential oil
Essential oil of basil is used in medicine and perfumery. As a spice it is suitable fresh as an additive in salads, tomato sauce, for flavoring pasta and cucumbers. Dried basil is added to stew, sauces, vegetable soups, to poultry, to stewed vegetables, vinegar, to vegetable oils, minced meat, Italian pizza, kidney beans, game, basilic vinegar, omelet, liver dumplings, marinade for roast. This is one of the non-irritating spices. Abundantly used in cooking in southern Europe.
Camphor has the ability to excite the central nervous system, especially the center of the medulla oblongata, and enhance the activity of the heart, is low toxicity, in large doses causes seizures of a clinical nature. Locally has an irritating and antiseptic effect. When using basil, you should be careful, since higher doses are very irritating.
Camphor is applied inside and in the form of injections of camphoric oil with a weakening of cardiac activity, asphyxia, collapse, poisoning with narcotic and hypnotic drugs.
Basil as an aphrodisiac
This is a very ancient family recipe from Cahors, my native places. To increase the sex drive, drink a glass of basil tincture before dinner( lunch or breakfast) with your lover or lover. The remedy also helps with impotence, depression, mental fatigue and depression - you should drink a glass of tincture and before each meal.
Recipe: 1 liter of red wine, Cahors, 50 grams of fresh basil leaves. Uncork the bottle of wine, push inside the leaves of the basil, close the bottle with a cork. Insist 2 days in a dark place, from time to time, shake the bottle.
In other industries
Basil is used in the manufacture of dry perfume, it is sold in canvas bags;oil is still used for the aromatization of soap and in the perfume industry. In Greece and Spain it is used to repel flies;The stung spot is rubbed with undiluted oil or crushed leaves are applied to it.