Sweet Basil

 Recently, there has been much research into the health benefits conferred by the essential oils found in basil. Scientific studies have established that compounds in basil oil have potent antioxidant, anti-cancer, antiviral, and anti-microbial properties.  Basil also has been shown to decrease the occurrence of platelet aggregation and experimental thrombus in mice.
It is traditionally used for supplementary treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India. In Siddha medicine, it is used for treating pimples on the face, but noted that intake of the seeds in large quantities is harmful for the brain.

 On the South East Asian markets  we can find hairy basil,  sweet basil and Thai basil, which are all interchangable.
Take one bush (about 6 branches) of basil , that gives you approximately 30 grams of leaves, add 20 grams of sligthly roasted cashew nuts (to make it creamy), 2 gloves of garlic,  a pinch of salt and put everything in your blender with 1/2 cup of water.

Put this sauce in the fridge ; you can serve it with baked vegetables or on your rice .