Basil goes beautifully with tomato, fish, and meat dishes. For easy pesto to mix with pasta, or accompany fish or chicken, chop several cloves of garlic, 2 cups basil leaves, 1/4 cup pine nuts, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 6 to 8 tablespoons olive oil in your food processor until it resembles a chunky paste.

Basil is part of the mint family, and brewed as a tea is helpful to relieve intestinal gas and inhibit dysentery.