How would your pesto taste without basil? or a salsa without coriander?
It’s hard to pinpoint whether herbs were first used medically or to flavor and preserve food. An herb is the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks, so it’s safe to say the two uses have a co-existed from the beginning. The best part is they are packed with flavour, so it’s far better than swallowing a bitter pill. A word of warning: these aren’t instant cures and are more a way to maintain good health. Here’s how you can include them in your everyday diet.
BASIL: Keep stress, diabetes, respiratory problems at bay with few basil leaves stirred into a tomato sauce, to be tossed with spaghetti or spread on pizza crust.
BAY LEAVES: Beat migraines, high blood sugar levels with bay leaves simmered in a light soup stock with garlic, carrot, onion and peppercorns.
CORIANDER: Control acne and diabetes with few sprigs of coriander in a fresh tomato and onion salsa. Best used when uncooked.
CURRY LEAVES: Tempered curry leaves and mustard seeds in tangy glass of buttermilk will minimize the symptoms of food poisoning.
LEMON GRASS: A hot brew of tea, water, lemon grass and few drops of honey will clear up congestion and relieve body aches.
PARSLEY: Parsley is believed to relieve gas and stomach aches. It is also excellent for bone and organ health. Get a good dose of parsley with a persillade which can be used as a topping for fresh oysters or cooked into hearty meat dishes.
OREGANO: Oregano is one of world’s finest natural medicines and cures everything from aches and pains, to stomach and urinary problems, swollen glands, nervousness and irregular menstrual cycles. Sprinkle some on a colorful antipasti dish with roasted bell peppers, zucchini and olives, tossed with salt, pepper and olive oil.
MINT: The word itself refers to cooling properties of mint, enjoy it with a cucumber and mint sandwich.
ROSEMARY: Studies have revealed that rosemary can help improve memory power and prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. Just add a sprig of it to the filling in your apple pie or use as marinades in meat dishes when grilling meat.
THYME: Thyme relieves bronchial and respiratory problems and can be had in tea or sautéed with tender green beans or baby leeks in olive oil and garlic.
Every herb is filled with their own unique taste, flavour, fragrance and great medicinal qualities. Herbs are completely different from any other ingredient in your kitchen. And by now they have gained more importance for you after this article. Hope you enjoyed gaining enough knowledge about how to use your herbs the next time you cook. Happy cooking
