How to Cook With Bay Leaves: 17 Recipe Ideas Using Bay Leaves

Native to the Mediterranean, bay leaves haven’t always been isolated to the kitchen for their culinary uses. This leafy herb, which comes from the laurel tree, was used in ancient Roman and Greek societies to crown the heads of victors after battle as a symbol of their success.

Today, bay leaves are more commonly found swimming in pots of rich sauces, rather than adorning the heads of victors. Unlike its herbal cousins, bay leaves are rarely consumed directly, as they're typically added to a sauce or stock during the stewing process and removed before consumption.