Basil
King of herbs
Basil is a herb most commonly associated with Italian cooking, although it in fact originated in India and the Middle East.
It has a natural affinity of flavour with tomatoes, and this crops up in dishes from pasta to pizza, and also in the simple Caprese salad of tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
Basil is one of the main ingredients in pesto sauce (or pistou to the French), along with pine nuts, olive oil and garlic.
Basil also goes well with cream and is often added to sauces towards the end of cooking, as its delicate flavour is lost if overcooked.
Outside of Italian cuisine, it is most widely found in Thai food, especially in its purple or 'holy basil' form.
The herb is thought to take its name from the Greek basilikon phuton which translates as 'king of herbs'.
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