After reading this informative article, you will understand why basil is still the healthiest food in the kitchen.
First, let us understand what exactly is pesto sauce. Pesto is a thick sauce made using 5 ingredients
Basil Leaves+ Olive Oil + Garlic + Pine nuts + Parmesan Cheese
We call basil Tulasi in India. You will find many stories about the history of Basil which is now grown in various regions across the world, but it essentially originated in India, then spread to other Asian countries.
The English name Basil is derived from the old Greek word BASILIKOHN, which means ROYAL indicating its prominence in ancient culture.
People considered it very noble and sacred. Even now, the age-old tradition of respect towards basil has continued in other cultures.
In India, Tulasi is cherished as an icon of adoration and devotion.
That is why you will see the Tulasi plant in almost every house kept at the entrance in India. while in Italy, it was a symbol of love.
Use Of Basil In Cuisines
It is specifically used in a variety of cuisines throughout the world including Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Laotian.
What Is Pesto Sauce?
Frankly speaking, pesto is a generic term for anything that is made by pounding; that is why the word is used for several pestos in Italy.
However, pesto alla Genovese which means Genoese pesto remains as the most famous pesto in Italy and in the rest of the world.
For an instance, if you are a budding culinarian, the chef may ask you to make Pesto Alla Genovese as a trial, to be eligible to be employed.
The term pestâ or pestare means to pound, to crush, in reference to the authentic method of preparation: according to customary tradition, the ingredients used in pesto are crushed or ground in a marble mortar through a circular motion of a wooden pestle.
How To Make Pesto Sauce
You will find en number of preparation methods if you google some.
But, I will list the authentic way which I used to make in Industrial kitchen.
STEPS
Take a deep bowl
Put Fresh Basil Leaves into the bowl
Add Fresh Garlic Cloves or cooked chopped golden brown sauteed garlic
Add Pine nuts
Add Parmigiano Reggiano – Parmesan Cheese
Finally, add olive oil and blend them well with the blender till the sauce consistency
Our pesto is ready
Benefits Of Pesto Sauce
Each of the ingredients used in making pesto sauce has significant medicinal value in its own way.
Basil – Research by nutritionists has shown that basil has unique health-protecting effects in two basic areas: basil flavonoids and volatile oils.
Basil leaves in pesto sauce add plenty of flavonoid phytochemicals into the sauce called orientin and vicenin, which are basically antioxidants.
These antioxidants neutralize damaging free radicals that destroy the normal healthy cells in our body.
These radicals otherwise increase the risk of cancer, heart stroke, or related diseases and other chronic conditions.
Putting extra basil leaves into your pesto sauce ensures that you eat high amounts of these beneficial antioxidants.
Garlic has many benefits in general, and so is with pesto which benefits in a variety of ways for our health.
It controls or lower cholesterol levels in as little as three months report the National Institute For Nutrition (NIN).
Garlic also protects the heart by stabilizing blood pressure levels and slowing the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
ALSO, READ – BENEFITS OF EATING GARLIC
Although there are many to list, you should be reading the Benefits of eating garlic in case you need to know more about garlic.
Olive oil in pesto sauce is full of monounsaturated fats which are good for the heart, or MUFAs, replacing unhealthy saturated and trans fats.
Monounsaturated fats straightly help lower blood cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels and help in blood clotting in case of injury.
Pine nuts are small edible seeds of the female cone in a pine tree.
Pine kernels are rich in essential nutrients and minerals, vitamins, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids required for a healthy heart.
Pine nuts aid in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
Parmesan Cheese is easily digested and an excellent source of calcium.
Parmesan cheese contains small amounts of vitamin D, which is known to enhance intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc.
Pesto Sauce As An Accompaniment
- Pesto is commonly offered in pasta dishes. In India penne pasta in pesto sauce is very famous.
- In Italy, potatoes and string beans are also traditionally added to the dish, while boiling in the same pot in which the pasta is being cooked.
- Pasta, mixed with pesto, has become a well-known dish in several countries today, with countless recipes being posted online for pesto pasta.
ALSO, READ – Methods Of Cooking And Effects Of Heat On Foods
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