Bay leaves are aromatic leaves from the bay laurel tree, commonly used as a spice in cooking. They have a slightly bitter, herbal flavor and are usually added to dishes during the cooking process and removed before serving.
Bay leaves are commonly used in stews, soups, sauces, and marinades, and are a key ingredient in many spice blends, such as bouquet garni and garam masala.
When using bay leaves in cooking, it's important to use them sparingly, as their flavor can be quite strong. Typically, one or two bay leaves are enough for most dishes. It's also important to remove the bay leaves before serving, as they can be a choking hazard.
