| The herb that's most popularly associated with | | | | herb, that it became a symbol of love. Cooking |
| Italian cuisine is basil (Basilico). There are several | | | | with basil induces feelings of love, passion, mental |
| varieties, but you're most likely to find sweet basil | | | | clarity and harmony into your life. It is known as |
| in the shops - it has large, aromatic leaves. | | | | the herb of kings, and is a favourite with cooks |
| Cooking with basil, especially if you grew it | | | | around the world, lending its delicious flavour to |
| yourself, is wonderfully satisfying . | | | | many ethnic cuisines. |
| Basil is a small, bushy plant that grows to about | | | | Pick the leaves as fresh as possible, and tear |
| two feet tall. It is a member of the mint family | | | | them rather than cut them. (Basil leaves blacken |
| and is very similar in appearance. With its rich | | | | when exposed to metal, therefore it is common |
| spicy scent it is said to refresh the mind, relieve | | | | in Italy to tear the leaves by hand before |
| headaches and elevate moods. It is an excellent | | | | throwing the basil into a sauce or onto a dish.) |
| source of iron, calcium, potassium and Vitamin C, | | | | These torn leaves are great just added to salads, |
| all of which are hugely beneficial to one's health. | | | | such as insalata caprese. You can also cook them, |
| But perhaps most of all it is a wonderful and | | | | in a simple tomato sauce for instance, but make |
| versatile culinary herb. | | | | sure you add them just before serving. If they're |
| Fresh basil is best known for pesto and goes | | | | cooked too much they lose their flavour. |
| extremely well with pasta, rice, tomato, zucchini, | | | | Insalata Caprese Recipe |
| and eggplant. The Italians discovered that basil | | | | This is a simple salad from the Italian region of |
| tends to compliment the taste of tomatoes, and | | | | Campania, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, |
| since tomatoes played such an important role in | | | | tomatoes (preferably plum) and sprinkled with |
| Italian cuisine, basil came to be widely used in | | | | basil. It is traditionally seasoned with salt, freshly |
| Italian cooking as well. | | | | milled black pepper, and olive oil. |
| It may be good for you, and the oil from the leaf | | | | Ingredients |
| is distilled and used for stomach aches in herbal | | | | Four medium tomatoes |
| medicine, but one thing is for certain, it makes | | | | 8oz of buffalo mozzarella |
| your food taste better. | | | | Bunch of basil with the leaves torn |
| You can store fresh leaves in plastic bags inside | | | | Olive Oil |
| the refrigerator, and also freeze crushed or | | | | Directions |
| pureed leaves in ice cubes that you can drop into | | | | Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella thickly. |
| your soups and dishes as flavouring. You can also | | | | Arrange alternately on a plate and sprinkle |
| preserve basil leaves by keeping them in a jar | | | | with torn basil leaves |
| with olive oil. | | | | Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and |
| Basil became an integral seasoning in Italian cuisine, | | | | pepper to your taste. |
| and in fact Italians had such appreciation for this | | | | |