What's the deal with these Bay leaves?

[Rocklobster]

Bought these today in the import section of a grocery store. Had bay leaves labelled on the bag. They were with other spices like masalas, cardamom, cumin, etc, so I am guessing Indian type bay leaves. They are huge and don't smell like the regular smaller type we get here typically. One buck for a fairly large bag. Anybody familiar with this???

 

[Rocklobster]

Answered my own question...Read on....Ingredient Spotlight: Indian Bay Leaf | The Kitchn

 

[taxlady]

Answered my own question...Read on....Ingredient Spotlight: Indian Bay Leaf | The Kitchn

Neato. I'll have to look for that next time I'm at the Indian market.

 

[Rocklobster]

Neato. I'll have to look for that next time I'm at the Indian market.

No Frills spice section

 

[Kylie1969]

They look good, love Indian stuff

 

[taxlady]

No Frills spice section

Is No Frills a store? We don't have any here. There is "Singh Farm", not too far. There is also an Indian Grocery/depanneur on Gouin, not too far.

 

[Kylie1969]

Indian curry leaves are wonderful for cooking Indian dishes and curries

 

[CWS4322]

I got some dried ones of those a few years ago--made a very nice blend of curry-like powder with those. Roch--I picked up a bay tree at the Richmond Nursery (south on Eagleson) a few years ago. I think I paid around $10-15 for it. I put it out on the deck in the summer, in the house in the winter. It doesn't need much care--I mist it about 1x per week and make sure it is watered, in a sunny window. I love using fresh bay leaves.

 

[FabulousFoodie]

Not something I've ever been able to find, I'm very jealous!
I've seen a lot of recipes where it's just dropped whole into the curry sauce and supposedly really adds to the flavour.

 

[Kitchen Barbarian]

That's tulsi, "Indian bay leaves", a relative of cassia (cinnamon). Other than being a member of the laurel family it bears little resemblance to Mediterranean bay leaves. Substitute cassia leaves, cassia buds, or a bit of cinnamon.

Curry leaves are totally different: