Herb & Spice Companion

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:40

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

Dtp:VIVIAN Page:41

61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 41 3/7/15 5:10 pm

(Text)

COmmON KITCHEN HERBS

• 41 –

Their leaves won’t be harvested for another eight to

ten years, but after that, they can grow for a century,

reaching 60 feet tall. Leaves are harvested during the

dry seasons, from October through December (and in

some regions, through March), and then sun-dried for

a few days before being sold commercially.

Keep It Fresh

To save Indian bay leaves for future use, freeze them in plastic bags (see page 19).

In the Kitchen

Dishes: Rice, braises, curries, soups,

sauces

Prep: Simply place whole Indian bay

leaves in your pot or pan and cook; just

remember to remove them before serving.

Serve: The sweet cinnamon flavor of

Indian bay leaves is essential to many

savory Indian dishes, including biryanis

(rice dishes), kormas (braises), and meat,

vegetable, and lentil curries. Ground

leaves are a central ingredient in tradi-

tional garam masala spice blends (see

page 250).

HEALTH BENEFITS

Long used in Ayurveda, Indian bay

leaves offer anti-inflammatory,

antibacterial, diuretic, and digestive

properties. They’ve been used to

treat coughs, flu, and asthma, and

to prevent or ease digestive troubles

like gas, nausea, and diarrhea. Like

the bay laurel, Indian bay leaf also

contains eugenol, a compound used

as a mild pain-reliever and antiseptic.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Cinnamon leaves


• Cassia


• Clove


• Cardamom leaves

PAIRINGS

Fruits and Vegetables:

cabbage, carrots, celery, coconut,

onions, peas, potatoes, tomatoes

Proteins: almonds, cashews,

chicken, eggs, fish, hazelnuts

Seasonings: cardamom,

cayenne, chili powder, chili

peppers, cilantro, cinnamon,

cloves, coriander seeds, cumin,

curry powder and paste, garlic,

ginger, lemon juice, lime juice,

mint, mustard seed, paprika,

parsley, pepper, poppy seeds,

red pepper flakes, scallions, soy

sauce, tamarind, turmeric

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:40

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

Dtp:VIVIAN Page:41

61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 41 3/7/15 5:12 pm