Bay Leaf
The thing I absolutely love about cooking with bay leaves is their aromatic smell.
They smell so good, you can only imagine the flavor they add to your food.
Origin: Although bay leaves are native to the Mediterranean region, they are used in many cuisines around the world – Mediterranean, Latin American, Indian, Indonesian, West Indian and Mexican. There are also California bay leaves which come from the California Bay Tree. Depending on the leaves, their flavors may vary slightly.
Bay leaves are used as a whole and then removed from the dish once ready. They are not meant to be eaten. Therefore, if you crush bay leaves, it makes it much harder to remove them from the dish. If you are going to crush them, a good idea is to place them in a muslin bag or tea infuser – this way you get the flavor but not the leaf – brilliant!
They smell so good, you can only imagine the flavor they add to your food.
Origin: Although bay leaves are native to the Mediterranean region, they are used in many cuisines around the world – Mediterranean, Latin American, Indian, Indonesian, West Indian and Mexican. There are also California bay leaves which come from the California Bay Tree. Depending on the leaves, their flavors may vary slightly.
Bay leaves are used as a whole and then removed from the dish once ready. They are not meant to be eaten. Therefore, if you crush bay leaves, it makes it much harder to remove them from the dish. If you are going to crush them, a good idea is to place them in a muslin bag or tea infuser – this way you get the flavor but not the leaf – brilliant!
In the West Indies, bay leaves are added to prepare a yummy jerk sauce to grill some spicy chicken.
Bay leaves are also used in Filipino cuisine. One dish which can be made with pork or chicken is a menudo which is like a stew.
Massaman curry, a Thai curry dish which can be made with chicken, beef or lamb is another wonderful recipe which uses bay leaves.
In Indian cuisine, bay leaves are also used to flavor biryanis, a spicy rice dish.
Whatever cuisine you’re in the mood for, a bay leaf (or two!) is definitely a spice to add in for a delicious flavor.
Medicinal cures:
Bay leaves have many vitamins and nutritional values which are known to be antiseptic, antioxidant, digestive and even have anti-cancer properties.
A study published in the Phytotherapy research journal has found bay leaves help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
The Vitamin C nutrient can serve as an antioxidant to help boost the immune system, heal wounds and have antiviral effects. The Vitamin A helps with normal eyesight and to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
On a lighter note, the leaves can even help with an upset stomach.
When used as an essential oil, it is known to help relieve muscle pain and arthritis.
It can also be inhaled as a vapor to loosen phlegm or used as a salve to help with respiratory conditions.
Household uses:
While cooking with bay leaves, you can leave a few out on your kitchen counter or shelves as they are known to repel meal moths, flies, cockroaches, mice and silverfish.
Beauty uses:
Bay leaves can help with a dry scalp and dandruff. All you have to do is soak bay leaves in water and rub them on your scalp after a shampoo. It is also known to improve the health of the hair follicles.
From kitchen to medicine cabinet to showers, bay leaves have some amazing healing qualities.
And there’s more – it has magical uses.
According to folk wisdom, bay leaves are used to ward off evil and keep your home peaceful. It is said “no evil can stay where bay leaves have been”.
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