accidentally blended bay leaf in soup accidentally blended bay leaf in soup

I finally got the bay leaf to go down. Perhaps they're done with their time in the spotlight and they want to live a more private life. And doing laundry! That's why we cook with them. I loved using it in this form but haven't seen in here in years. Potato Frying Guide (For Crispy Potatoes and French Fries). Start the soup: Set the Instant Pot the the saut function. The worst thing which can happen is that a piece of bay leaf, being somewhat hard, can lodge somewhere in your digestive system, necessitating a trip to ER. I think I did too good a job in pureeing that I find no remnants of the leaf or stem. In the worse cases, actors stop acting because they passed away or died. But what does the science say? I finally read more. If you've pureed the soup then you've solved the second issue. Add remaining ingredients Add in the salt, pepper and flour and gently toss until veggies are coated. What really makes this sound fake is that the bay leaf was in a salad. Simmer for one hour or until peas have broken apart and soup is thick. But sometimes, the simplest meals turn out to be the best, and ones we make, Dutch pea soup to keep you warm! There is no health risk associated with eating ground bay leaves as you wont have to worry about any non-existent rigid edges. If you've pureed the soup then you've solved the second issue. So, we ate the soup. cool water - or more if soup gets too thick, pulled from the bone and shredded into bite sized pieces. Webstem. Bay leaves can be dangerous if they get stuck in the throat, as they don't chew well or break down enough while chewing. It's loaded with good-for-you veggies, has an herby-y flavor boost, and is a spoonful of the dreamiest, velvety texture. Add the ham bone, peas, WebEither the leaf is still stuck or it has just caused slight damage inside and has gone further to the stomach. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. What effect have bay leaves in a meat/tomato sauce? It was an adjustment, but I'm glad we did it before we had kids and now I enjoy making things stretch. Ok thanks ladies. Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? I didnt pure, only blend my veggie soup a bit to thicken. Bay leaves are 100% edible. In writing a recipe, when should I remove the bay leaves in the process? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Very painful. Finely ground bay leaves are edible. When Are You At Your Most Daring Bumble Answers. I suspect its an old wives tale. Panera Bread. It must have got pured in with everything else!? I asked the server, and she said that it was common practice for that restaurant to leave bay leaves in situ. They dont have a particularly good taste if you eat them plain, but if you use them during cooking, they can add a nice herbal flavor to your dish. I think levana kirschenbaum talks about crushed bay leaf as a spice that you pour onto food. Perhaps they are no longer passionate about acting, and they want to move on to something else in their career. @dn3s if you get out of bed in the morning, the worst thing that can happen is that you misstep, fall down and have to go to ER with complicated fractures. Bay laurel leaves look similar to leaves of the evergreen shrub known as English or cherry laurel. I've been there and done that. Hospital suggested surgery to remove it but I finally managed to dislodge one of the pieces as a result of my violent hacking. As long as it tastes okay. Served it to LO for lunch and dinner. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Bay leaves that are safe for cooking are not toxic to consume. Laurel Molido (Powdered Bay Leaf) is used in Mexican cuisine. Here are 8 health benefits of coriander. I was told to sip water and eat soft foods only, my esophagus is cut all over and my throat is really sore to swallow. Very frightening. Add minced garlic, cook for another 1 min. There is no reason to worry. It only takes a minute to sign up. Otherwise we were going to end up eating at 8:00 p.m.! Brings to mind the old "swallowing toothbrush bristles causes appendicitis" urban legend. Bay leaves are definitely edible. I have always heard the same warning, but after seeing flaked bay leaves for sale at the store, I concluded they Place pound beans in large saucepan along with 1 large onion halved and 2 cloves of garlic They are first gregarious and later solitary. Let it simmer along with any meat, vegetables, or stock, and it will infuse the food with a mild herbal flavor. BH because it'd be a shame to waste a whole batch of soup! Blog inizio senza categoria accidentally blended bay leaf in soup. link to Potato Frying Guide (For Crispy Potatoes and French Fries), link to How Long Chicken Lasts in the Fridge and Freezer (Raw vs Cooked). About an argument in Famine, Affluence and Morality. Stir to combine and add in bacon. Most of the issues with the stomach are caused by full leaf or chunks of it flaking off and causing some damage due to it being so hard and flakey. Today I ate soup and it had a bay leaf in it. It got stuck in my throat and I couldn't breathe or talk. Lucky my 12 yr old daughter had the sense t Press J to jump to the feed. Both had never made the mistake I did, but both thought it would be fine. If youre using smaller pieces of bay leaves, try putting them in a tea infuser for easier removal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaf#Safety. I tried to choke it out of my throat but it would not go out or down. You can actually buy bay leaf powder, so it's perfectly fine. 41,389 satisfied customers. There wasn't time to cook anything new before dinner. The best way to determine if you like the flavor of a bay leaf is to cook the same dish twice one time with a bay leaf and one time without. Heat to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. If you avoid the pith, youll get minimal bitterness from it, and the brightness would probably help you offset any harsh, bitter flavors. Personally, I cooked a stew in two pots at the same time so I could compare flavors and I did notice a difference. WebMelt cup of butter over medium-low heat in a saucepan. Hi, I'm Kimberly. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Keep the water aside for later. Prepare the soup base. Weaker blenders just aren't up to the task of pulverizing the leaves. Coconut milk and a little honey might help. Wed, Jun 10 2015, 1:19 am. Many delicious ingredients are also exceptionally healthy. If its pured it should be perfectly fine. Continue doing this until youve added all 4 cups of cream. releases natural gelatins that turns this soup into a jello-mold, https://www.garlicandzest.com/yellow-peas-with-smoked-sausage/. I would strain the soup to get the bits out. If you want to experiment with bay leaves, the easiest way to use them is simply to toss one or two whole leaves into a soup, stew, or braising liquid. Use them whole and remove them before serving, or buy ground bay leaf powder instead. Add in carrots and celery and saut for 5-7 minutes more. Add the leeks, onion and garlic. How Much Is 1 Pound Of Ground Beef In Cups, Riding Mower Making Noise When Blades Are Engaged, Aluminum Awning Before And After Awning Removal. After 2 years, the bay leaves lose their aromatic flavor. Today we're making Erwtensoep or Snert, a winter classic from the Netherlands. I couldn't pick out any pieces, because there weren't any to be picked out. You can add a small pinch to your dish and it will be safe to eat. The texture was powdery. Taking large amounts of bay leaf along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. 20062023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. The biggest reason why is that bay leaves are tough in cooking and they usually don't puree very Is it plausible for constructed languages to be used to affect thought and control or mold people towards desired outcomes? Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? I just googled it and bay leaves aren't bad for you but they are very hard and brittle and can apparently cause damage to the stomach. Also how well baking soda and the raw vegetable diet worked for me, and how I have been able to improve my kidneys to a decent level for the past 3 years and even through 6 kidney damaging Cat Scans within a 15 month period. My digestive system has been in distress for months as a result of the trauma. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application, Replacing broken pins/legs on a DIP IC package. After egg hatch, caterpillars feed on leaves. Bay leaves thrive in dishes that take a long time to cook as there is more time for the essential oils in the bay leaves to infuse into the dish. For some time, the treatment of some deadly diseases, especially cancer, has been advancing along a "scientific" line that is not always, People quit acting for many reasons. You may have to go to the ER.". I guess that if you are working as a cook, your workplace may decide that even if the chance for a customer choking on a bay leaf is something like one in a million, they'd rather instill removing bay leaves from dishes as a policy. Don't get me wrong, I still eat taco bell and pizzas every so often, but I'm trying to eat more dank food from nature! ", Mohinga and Fermented Tea Leaves: Eating on Location in Myanmar, Filipino Food 101: Recipes to Get You Started, Quick and Easy Stovetop Butternut Squash Soup Recipe, Pressure Cooker Beef and Vegetable Stew Recipe, Does it Blend Like a Beast? Bay leaves are also a classic ingredient in a seasoning blend called bouquet garni,which is French for garnished bouquet. Its a bundle of herbs thats tied together with a string and added to a stock or sauce to boost the flavor. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. WebBay leaves can be used in soups, stews, marinades, broth, stock, sauces, rice dishes, pasta sauces, veggie dishes, and more! Given how often bay leafs must find their ways into people's digestive systems (they feature in our food), it is safe to conclude that only a tiny fraction of ingested bay leafes cause problems, else there would be more studies mentioning such cases. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Some of the various edible varieties are: Just remember to remove whole bay leaves from the dish before eating it. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Notes To use dried beans, omit canned beans. So even a bay leaf that has simmered in a soup for 4 hours will still be relatively stiff and rigid making the cooked bay leaf a potential choking hazard. Having conversations and cooking can often get mixed up in my head and it's hard to keep track of ingredients once in a while. I'm learning how to catch, grow, and cook my own natural food and my goal is to help others eat more food from nature as well as grow your own plants whether they're houseplants or edible ones. DESIGNED BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS. I was told that the bay leaf is like swallowing glass, I'm so so lucky. Increased my GFR kidney disease function damage 11 points in 9 days Amazing results of how I accidentally improved my kidney function dramatically in 9 days, because of what I did to try to help another ailment. I did a search online and it says its not poision, but am looking for some "been there done that you'll be fine" reassurance, as I am having a bowl of the soup right now! I accidently swallowed a piece of bay leaf while i was eating soup yesterday. Sad food, But this made me wonder if bay leaves add so much flavor then are bay leaves edible? Stir in the 2 bay leaves. I think someone else suggested acid counteracts bitterness. I was rushed to the ER after swallowing 2 small pieces of bay leaf that were in a salad served at the Long Beach Diner and lodged in my esophagus When in doubt, remove the bay leaves, since most of us don't want hard, stiff, pointy things lodged in our throats. Broken glass is perhaps tipping it a bit strong, but the thick central stem of bay leaves does mean they stay quite rigid even when cooked, so ther Accidentally blended bay leaf in soup. Served it to lo for lunch and dinner. However you decide to use them, dont store them for too long. 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped; 3 large leeks (about 1 1/4 pounds untrimmed), washed well and sliced; 1 small yellow onion, peeled I loved using it in this form but haven't seen in here in years. Otherwise, there's no reason not to eat them. Whether it's a nippy day or you're just craving an ultra-comforting meal, this dairy-free potato leek soup satisfies in so many ways. Is it OK to eat blended bay leaves? However, sometimes you can find them fresh in the produce department. They become more flavorful as they age, and that flavor is extracted with steam and heat (1, 2, 3). Mike Pence, what are you doing in the Kitchen?! When you eat a bay leaf, it can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. Thats the main reason most recipes suggest using them whole and removing the bay leaves before serving the dish. But, the flavor is very strong and you wouldn't want to eat one if you happen to see one in some soup you're about to eat. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law. Oregano is a staple herb in many cuisines around the world. Last medically reviewed on March 9, 2020. However, use finely ground bay leaves in moderation as the flavor can be overpowering. In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Bay leaves are completely safe to cook with, but because of their texture, theyre almost impossible to chew. A little bay goes a long way. Marinate the chicken wings in oyster sauce, salt, sugar and chicken bouillon powder. Eventually, they become a more pleasant addition to the soup or sauce. A bay leaf may cause choking especially if you attempt to swallow it whole. These include actors who stopped acting because they died, as well as many actors. I sent the kids out of the room while I tried to recover and figure out what to do. /r/AskCulinary provides expert guidance for your specific cooking problems to help people of all skill levels become better cooks, to increase understanding of cooking, and to share valuable culinary knowledge. We Tested the BEAST Personal Blender to Find Out, Tuscan Ribollita With Summer Vegetables Recipe, Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Enchiladas Recipe, Pressure Cooker Thai Green Chicken Curry With Eggplant and Kabocha Squash Recipe, Kenji's interview with David Leite on the Splendid Table. Culinary bay leaves are oval and about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. And Kenji tells me he sometimes leaves the bay leaf in a soup he plans to pure, but only if he has his high-powered pro I would normally suggest salt and fat, but you shouldn't really season like crazy just to avoid bitterness either. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMt9h3X_nufTCsLIEWlBCkt73DvkrOetL Unless you have a bay leaf tree, you'll likely need to make ground bay leaves or buy a ground bay leaf powder at your local grocery store. Using a whole leaf (and also not too many of them) reduces the risk of your food tasting like Vick's VapoRub. How do you get out of a corner when plotting yourself into a corner. Interestingly, lab studies on the essential oils in bay leaves have found that they may be toxic to some harmful pathogens, including certain strains of bacteria and fungus (3, 5). Adding fresh or dried bay leaves to your cooking liquid can enhance the flavor of your dish. Meet other parents of October 2013 babies and share the joys and challenges as your children grow. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Shiny and dark green when fresh, bay leaves turn more of an olive color when dried (1, 3). Press J to jump to the feed. I made a Butternut, carrot, and cauliflower soup pure and blended the bay leaf. Forgot to take the bay leaf out!!! You are 100% fine OP, the only real danger from eating bay leaves is the sharp edges if using dried, but it sounds like it was blended. WebThe real secret to using bay leaves successfully is to allow them to be in the dish long enough to simmer. Grand Traverse Pie Company. Remove ham bone and discard. Broken glass is perhaps tipping it a bit strong, but the thick central stem of bay leaves does mean they stay quite rigid even when cooked, so there is potential for scratching the intestinal lining if a whole one was swallowed. Bay leaves can be used in soups, stews, marinades, broth, stock, sauces, rice dishes, pasta sauces, veggie dishes, and more! Bay leaves cannot be overcooked as long as they are simmering inside of a soup, stew, or other slow cooked dish. Over time, the bay leaves will soften slightly when cooking. But, right after I'd pureed the soup in my Vitamix, I realized that I hadn't taken out the bay leaf! Accidentally Blended Bay Leaf In Soup. And Kenji tells me he sometimes leaves the bay leaf in a soup he plans to pure, but only if he has his high-powered pro-blender available. Bay leaves have been used many different ways throughout history for possible health benefits. I used to be able to get ground bay leaf in a small jar like other spices. You can crush them, but they will likely still have a gritty texture. I made a Butternut, carrot, and cauliflower soup pure and blended the bay leaf. Coriander is an herb that's commonly used to flavor various international dishes. Lol If everything looks normal I think I'll just keep it. I've been trying to teach my girls how to cook simultaneously while I cook the main part of the meal. Easy Cilantro Lime Slaw For Fish Tacos & More. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaf#Safety, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. On a side note I wanted to add lemon zest but now Im nervous this may enhance the bitterness. Salt counters bitterness, just be careful not to use too much. In fact, I personally know somebody to whom it happened. Thanks! My verdict is to keep bay leaves in since it adds a pleasant yet subtle flavor. Since you can buy ground bay leaves, I don't see why this would be a problem. They're sometimes used in spice mixessparingly, because their flavor is extra-strong when groundand pickling spices. My code is GPL licensed, can I issue a license to have my code be distributed in a specific MIT licensed project? Sautee the onion and garlic. What happens if you accidentally eat a bay leaf? Will sour cream or coconut milk offset the bitter taste? If you dont want to worry about accidentally ingesting a bay leaf, or you want to use it in a spice rub, purchase ground bay leaf instead, and use it as you would any other dried, powdered spice. The rigid edges of the leaves can harm or get stuck in your digestive tract. I made a big pot of chicken and rice soup for ds today. It may also have significant health benefits, such as the 6 discussed here. However, be careful as the rigid edges are a choking hazard and may harm your digestive tract. Bay leaves really do noticeably affect the flavor of a dish. You can remove the bay leaves once the soup is cooked. How to show that an expression of a finite type must be one of the finitely many possible values? I was told that eating dried bay leaves was akin to eating broken glass in their potential effects on the digestive system. Whole dried bay leaves can be added to a slow cooked dish at the beginning. Typically these leaves will simply soften over time and impart all their flavor regardless if theyre cooked for 1 hour or simmering for 5 hours. Bay leaves cannot be overcooked as long as they are simmering inside of a soup, stew, or other slow cooked dish. However, the plants are very different, and the later may be toxic if eaten (4). The heat will break down some of the flavors from the leaf, including a little bit of menthol taste. I used to be able to get ground bay leaf in a small jar like other spices. Cook the carrots and broccoli. We all know the feeling of eating a mouthful of soup, stew, or some other saucy dish, biting down on a flat, rigid thing, pulling it out of our mouths with our fingers, and beholding none other than the bay leaf that should have been discarded. I think bay leaves contain tannins, so it might -- similar to how over-brewed tea can be unpleasantly bitter. I have accidentally pured a bay leaf into my own soup before and we ate it. COOK: Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil. However, its not because theyre poisonous, but rather because they can be a choking hazard. A ham bone is essential for flavoring the broth and adding body to the soup. If you do notice it after its thawed just puree it some more. Saute for five minutes until vegetables are tender. The shortest cook time I have seen with bay leaves was for 15-30 minutes. The rough edges of the leaves can tear you up inside. Leaf Suffice it to say, it was an acquired taste. I'm going to try and remember in the future though. This wiki summarizes it as they are safe (if you can stand the flavor), except they are often still stiff after cooking and could potentially cause choking or scratching. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Unpleasant, but the soup was otherwise fine. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. On the fat side, cream, coconut cream (milk works, but why not cream), butter would all help. The more ground up they are, the more the surface area of the leaf will be exposed, and the more flavor will be released into the food. But he's eaten it twice (before I realized what I had done) and no problems so far. Edible bay leaves grow all around the world. Pupation occurs in If you preorder a special airline meal (e.g. However, it can also enhance dishes that come together quickly like rice or sauted onions. Is a collection of years plural or singular? I pured it and froze it in ice cube trays. Its recommended that you remove the whole leaves or leaf pieces before eating. Why are bay leaves used whole and then removed rather than crushed up like other spices? Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. What happens if you accidentally eat a bay leaf? This is probably fake. Alternatively, you can freeze the fresh leaves for up to 1 year. I got a take out order of soup and salad combo, and a sandwich, and a side container of cream cheese more. Thankfully. /r/AskCulinary provides expert guidance for your specific cooking problems to help people of all skill levels become better cooks, to increase understanding of cooking, and to share valuable culinary knowledge. Turmeric is a traditional Indian spice with a powerful compound called curcumin. Should I sweeten the soup with sugar or honey? Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! There are also reports of people getting a bay leaf stuck in their throat or esophagus, as well as reports of a bay leaf causing intestinal perforation (6, 7). The leaves can be bitter if you bite into one, but when you add them to a slow-cooking recipe, such as a soup or stew, they impart a rich, herbal, woodsy flavor and aroma to your dish. Eating natural food can taste great, be affordable and accessible with a little planning. So, because swallowing a bay leaf is liable to cause esophageal discomfort and/or injury, most recipes call for them to be used whole and then discarded. The owl house fanfiction protective eda; Blog post title february 26, 2018. Suffice it to say, it was an acquired taste. I looked online for information and to try and figure out if we could eat the soup or not. Stir in the flour, then whisk in the half and half. I don't think small fragments would do much damage however - certainly no more than a bit of un-chewed potato chip or boiled sweet. How to make Instant Pot potato soup. "There is no reason to worry. But getting the perfect fry on your potatoes can be tricky. You can store bay leaves in the freezer to preserve their flavors for longer but it is best to use it before the 2 years. Can They Be Used Ground? For loose-leaf varieties, cut the outer leaves one by one when theyre large enough to use and allow the inner leaves to develop. That's why we cook with them. The paper I mentioned is "Bay Leaf Impaction in the Esophagus and Hypopharynx" by Stephen K. Buto, MD; Tat-Kin Tsang, MD; Gerald W. Sielaff, MD; Laurie L. Gutstein, MD; and Mick S. Meiselman, MD. It is a powerful aromatic flavor enhancer for any meal. MBBS, FCPS, FRCS (Glas Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and Typically these leaves will simply soften over time and impart all their flavor regardless if theyre cooked for 1 hour or simmering for 5 hours. Melt a knob of butter or add a splash of olive oil. It is a powerful aromatic flavor enhancer for any A bay leaf does not impact the nutritional value of your dish significantly, although it is a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Add cream, one cup at a time, whisking briskly until ingredients are well combined and mixture is more or less smooth. 8. The bay leaf did give the soup a much stronger flavor when it was pureed and my kids ate it, but didn't care for it. Bay leaves are a common herb that many cooks use when making soups and stews or braising meats. If youre worried about accidentally swallowing one, put the herb in a tea infuser or make a bouquet garni bundle with bay leaves and other fresh herbs, as either option makes them easier to remove. However, theyre not toxic to people and very safe to cook with. They also may feed on stems, buds, flowers and fruits. Simmer until slightly thickened. Then add milk, vegetable broth, potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, marjoram and nutmeg. Has 90% of ice around Antarctica disappeared in less than a decade? How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? Bay leaves are NOT dangerous to eat. This is an extremely common myth but holds no merit. It is believed that this myth began because there are leaves that look strikingly similar to the bay leaf (mountain laurel and cherry laurel leaves) that are poisonous to humans and animals. Black pepper is more than just a kitchen staple and may offer various beneficial effects. I was taught that blending or grinding bay made things bitter but I cant honestly say Ive ever actually noticed that happening in real life. WebSoak the shiitake mushrooms in water for at least 20 minutes then drain. Like fish bones and cinnamon sticks, the bay leaf is one of those things that, if not plucked from the dish before serving, ends up on the edge of the plate afterwards. Its I pured it and froze it in ice cube trays. Bay leaves dry very well, and since their flavor intensifies over several weeks after theyre picked and dried, thats how theyre usually sold. So let's learn how to catch, grow, and cook our food together. failure, prevent, repair, disease, cure, dialysis, cured,, This vegetarian potato leek soup is one to cozy up with this season! Dr's do, in fact, use cameras that go through the nose to look at the throat. Today I ate soup and it had a bay leaf in it. Simmer Stir and bring the mixture to a boil. patreon.com/mynameisandong Andong, Treating cancer with Soursop [Research Based Information]. However, even cooked bay leaves will not wilt and still hope their shape after hours of simmering. The 7 Best Substitutes for Coriander and Cilantro, 10 Herbs That May Help Lower High Blood Pressure, 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Coriander, Basil: Nutrition, Health Benefits, Uses and More, Heres What Getting Less Than 7 Hours of Sleep a Night Can Do to You, 10 Delicious Herbs and Spices With Powerful Health Benefits, 6 Science-Based Health Benefits of Oregano, 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin, 11 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Black Pepper. Two weeks later the second piece finally passed into my digestive track. I ordered broccoli cheddar quiche and broccoli cheddar soup. I was rushed to the ER after swallowing 2 small pieces of bay leaf that were in a salad served at the Long Beach Diner and lodged in my esophagus cutting me like a rasor blade. Like the others said, if it tastes good, eat it. To prepare the soup: In a medium-sized Dutch oven or a thick-bottomed soup pot, heat up 1-2 Tbsp water until bubbly. Yet, just the other day I was eating a rabbit pie and I discovered a whole bay leaf in it. Why whole? Whether you call them bay leaves, bay laurel, or sweet laurel, this Mediterranean herb is a common ingredient in soups, stews, or braised meats. I did this once too. Add carrots, onion, and celery. When it comes to the culinary world, there are many debates on what is and isnt acceptable to consume.