Bay leaf: compositional characteristics and calorie content, curative effects, alleged harm in case of abuse. In which dishes it is customary to add spice. A decoction of laurel leaves causes a contraction of the uterus, thus it is possible to deal with a short delay of "critical days" while being sure that there is no pregnancy.
Harm and contraindications to bay leaves
Bay leaves, if misused, can do some harm. Abuse is fraught with severe constipation or poisoning. For some diseases, this spice with a specific composition is highly undesirable to use.
Whom bay leaf can harm:
- Pregnant and lactating women … It has already been mentioned that bay leaves can cause contraction of the uterus and help to increase its tone. This, in turn, can lead to miscarriage, and is also fraught with abnormal development of the fetus. Therefore, it is categorically impossible to introduce seasoning into the diet during pregnancy and lactation.
- Small children … In general, various spices and seasonings are not recommended for children, and bay leaves are no exception.
- Patients with intestinal obstruction, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer … Spices and seasonings are not recommended for such diseases. Medicines that are taken by patients suffering from these diseases are not combined with the components present in the composition of bay leaves. Moreover, both decoctions and infusions of lavrushka can exacerbate gastrointestinal diseases.
- People with a tendency to constipation … This category of the population is recommended to use bay leaves exclusively together with a large amount of coarse fiber and water.
- Patients with cardiovascular diseases … Due to the fact that bay leaves are able to either lower or increase blood pressure, as well as stimulate the heart, it is not recommended to abuse them.
- Patients with kidney and liver diseases … With exacerbations of these diseases, you should adhere to a diet and limit the use of any spices, this also applies to bay leaves. In addition, the seasoning has a diuretic effect. In the end, all this can cause movement of kidney stones.
- Patients with severe diabetes … It was already mentioned above about the benefits of this plant at an early stage of the disease, but with a severe form, it is contraindicated to introduce seasoning into the menu.
- People with individual intolerance … We have already written about the benefits of the seasoning for allergic reactions of a different nature. However, if you are allergic to the components of bay leaf, it is worthwhile to be from its use.
Bay leaf recipes
Bay leaves are an essential cooking spice. It is most commonly used in broths, soups and pickles. Lavrushka will undoubtedly add an unusual taste and aroma to the second courses. A big plus of bay leaf is that it goes well with other spices, namely cloves, sage, rosemary, pepper, dill and parsley.
This spice can be bought at any store in leaves, granules and ground. Of course, the best option is flat and not broken olive-colored leaves, the shelf life is 1 year.
Recipes using bay leaves
- Pork in a roasting sleeve … Components: 800 g of pork, salt (2 tsp), garlic (2 cloves), 2 laurel leaves, 1 liter of water, as well as black pepper and other spices to taste. First, put spices, salt and pepper in the water, boil and cool. Then we put the meat in this brine (the water should completely cover it), cover it with foil and put it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. We take out the meat, dry it and rub it lightly with salt and spices. We make small cuts and place the garlic in them. Then we put the meat in the sleeve, put the brine lavrushka there and bake in the oven for an hour, at a temperature of 190 degrees.
- Mackerel in a jar … We need 2 fresh fish, carrots, onions, vegetable oil (3 tbsp. L.), 2 allspice peas, 1-2 lavrushki, salt, which we take to taste. Defrost the fish, remove the entrails and cut into portions. We clean and grate the carrots. Peel the onion and cut into half rings. We put food in layers in a jar: carrots, fish, onions, etc. Salt, put pepper and lavrushka, pour with vegetable oil. We close the dishes with a lid or foil and cook the dish in a cold oven for about 1 hour.
- Chicken stew in a slow cooker … Take 1.5 kg of chicken meat, 1 onion, 1 teaspoon of salt, 4 black peppercorns and 1-2 lavrushki. First you need to rinse and dry the chicken meat, then cut it into medium-sized pieces. What about the skin of a bird? It depends on the taste of the person preparing the dish. We spread the meat in the multicooker bowl, pour the required amount of water and turn on the "Stew" mode for 2 hours. Then add the peeled and chopped onion, salt, pepper and lavrushka. We turn on the same mode for another 1 hour. During this time, we sterilize the jars, put the stew in them and seal the container.
- Onion cutlets … Ingredients: 150 ml of water, 100 g of potatoes, 200 g of onions, 3 tablespoons of semolina, 1 chicken yolk, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1-2 lavrushki, sunflower oil and sour cream (4 tablespoons each), salt and pepper to taste. First of all, chop the onion in a blender bowl. Then add potatoes there and chop it too. It is clear that we first wash both onions and potatoes, peel and chop coarsely. Add yolk, salt, pepper and semolina to the resulting mass. Mix all the ingredients and leave for 20 minutes to swell the semolina. We spread the patties with a spoon in a preheated pan with sunflower oil. Fry until golden brown. Then we make sour cream filling in this way: dilute tomato paste and sour cream in water, add salt. Fill the cutlets, put the lavrushka on top and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve hot. This is an independent dish; you do not need to serve a side dish with it.
- Pickled red cabbage in a quick way … Take 1, 2 cabbage, 1 carrot, 0.5 liters of water and 120 ml of apple cider vinegar. These are, of course, not all components. We also need sugar (2 tablespoons), salt (1 tablespoon), garlic (3 cloves), 2 bay leaves, 0.5 tablespoon of black peppercorns, 1 tablespoon of coriander and half a tablespoon of cumin. First of all, we prepare vegetables: we chop the cabbage and grate the carrots on a grater for Korean vegetables. In a saucepan, mix the chopped food, adding chopped garlic and salt. Pour water into another saucepan and put all the other ingredients, except for vinegar. Bring to a boil, cook for 3 minutes, remove from heat. And then pour in the vinegar. We will pour the cabbage and carrots with hot brine and through a sieve, the spices must be thrown away. Cover the product with a lid, cool and leave for 4 hours.
Interesting facts about bay leaf
Bay trees and shrubs bloom in early spring. The flowers are yellow or greenish-white, but the berries have different shades - from dark green to purplish. The length of the leaves is from 7, 5 to 10 cm, the shape is elliptical, dark green, shiny. Leaves, flowers, and fruits are used to prepare a very useful essential oil.
In ancient Greece, this plant was considered sacred, and the heads of the winners were decorated with wreaths, they were an award for musicians and poets. Both a laurel leaf and a twig are a symbol of victory, glory and greatness. The sacredness of the laurel is spoken of in the myth of Apollo and Daphne, who did not accept his love. After that, the gods turned her into a laurel tree, which since then is considered sacred, personifying chastity and the absence of vice. And in ancient Rome around the 5th century BC. a wreath made of laurel was a sign of the highest distinction for warriors and emperors, as well as a symbol of victory over enemies.
In the Middle Ages, fever was treated with bay leaves.
In the days of early Christianity, the leaves of the plant we are considering personified eternal life. The wreath from it symbolized martyrdom.
In 1789, after the revolution in France, laurel branches adorned the coat of arms of the French Republic.
Currently, laurel twigs are present on the coats of arms of Algeria, Brazil, Greece, Israel, Cuba, Mexico and other countries. Symbolizes the superiority of laurels on the emblems of car companies such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Mercedes.
Today the laurel personifies power, success and victory. It is widely used for medicinal purposes and in cooking. Its strong aroma repels many insects, so bay leaves can replace conventional insecticides in gardens and summer cottages. Watch the video about bay leaf:
No one doubts the beneficial properties of bay leaves and that it is a wonderful spice for cooking various dishes in many countries. Therefore, each housewife should have a package of lavrushka in the kitchen cabinet. Unfortunately, we do not have the opportunity to prepare laurel leaves on our own, so we have to buy them in supermarkets. At the same time, pay attention to the appearance of the spice: olive color and whole leaves.
