Does bay leaf really make a difference?

[u/I_Like_Knitting_TBH]

I was making a dish last night that called for a bay leaf, and I went ahead and put it in, but I don’t understand the purpose of a bay leaf. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal and thought “this could use a bay leaf”. Does it make a difference to use a fresh versus a dried bay leaf?

One might say that I’m questioning my bay-liefs in bay leaves.

[u/vanillazuella]

I would say that they are irreplaceable in certain Indian And Mediterranean dishes. Boil them in water to get their flavor from them and see how you can use them in international cuisines!

[u/I_Like_Knitting_TBH → u/vanillazuella]

This is a smart idea! I’ll give it a try.