One of the main ingredients in this salad is basil – the crowning herb in Greek cuisine. Basil is one of the most sacred symbols of Christianity and it is used in the Greek Orthodox Church to bless its patrons and to bless people’s homes. As with all ingredients, basil must be handled delicately and respectfully.Greek basil is quite different to the sweet basil variety we find here in Australia. It is a fine leaved pungent variety and has a much stronger fragrance.
Basil adorns Greek tables on festive occasions, alongside other flower arrangements, and is permanently affixed next to icons and the kantili (vigil olive oil candle). It is not unusual to find most Greek households growing basil. Many take their basil plants as gifts to the church or have their basil blessed by the priest to receive health and prosperity in their homes.
The father of medicine, Hippocrates, regarded basil as beneficial to the heart and
prescribed it for treatment of constipation and for the prevention of vomiting. Hippocrates also makes mention of a drink in Ancient Greece called “kykeon”, which was flavoured with basil, mint, celery root, coriander, dill and poppy. It would assist with digestive problems.
This is one of the many salads that we enjoy in Greece.