Bay leaves contain several different fatty acids which, when cooked, are transferred into your food. Fatty acids have a large effect on the flavour and nutrition of food. Next time to cook plain rice, add a few bay leaves to the pot and you will notice the change in flavour.
Yeah cloves and bay leaves are pretty common in old recipes. For example check out
https://blogs.transparent.com/dutch/recipe-the-oldest-dish-in-the-netherlands/
That recipe should come out like this https://miljuschka.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Frietje-zuurvlees-Daphne-Dekkers.jpg
Providing links to solidify the existence of two of them…
Cloves can do a thing if used right. Bay leaves, on the other hand, you cannot convince me add anything to anything.
Bay leaves contain several different fatty acids which, when cooked, are transferred into your food. Fatty acids have a large effect on the flavour and nutrition of food. Next time to cook plain rice, add a few bay leaves to the pot and you will notice the change in flavour.
Also not many soups I don’t add bay leaves to.
https://www.theawl.com/2016/03/the-vast-bay-leaf-conspiracy/
je ne sais quoi is what one of the “chefs” said it adds.
Do you know what that means? Do you? It directly translates as ’ I don’t know what ’ Bay leaves are bullshit