Act as a mild sedative and has calming properties. Relieve minor aches and pains such as muscle cramps and sprains. Combat bad breath. Provides a cooling sensation to the skin and can help to treat minor burns, itching and skin irritations.
Mint is a very good cleanser for the blood. Mint tea can help clear up skin disorders such as acne. The two most popular types of mint that you may use for cooking are peppermint and spearmint, with spearmint being the milder of the two. Mint is extremely popular in Middle Eastern cooking, especially Iranian and Lebanese cuisine, where it is used in an extensive range of sweet and savoury dishes. Fresh mint can be bought from your local supermarket and should be stored in the refrigerator for the best freshness.
If you buy a bunch of mint, it should be placed in a container of water, stems down, with a plastic bag loosely covering the top. Ideally change the water every two days and the mint should stay fresh for up to a week. Dried mint can also be bought but the flavour is so much more diluted.
In the UK, mint is traditionally made into a sauce to be eaten with roast lamb. Peppermint is an excellent flavouring for ice cream, biscuits and chocolate. Below are some other ideas on how to use mint, whether it is peppermint or spearmint, in your cooking.
Add chopped mint to sauces for red meat particularly lamb. Add several sprigs of mint to peas, green beans or new potatoes whilst boiling. Add mint to a homemade or pre-prepared chocolate sauce for a choc and mint sauce. Use as a garnish for cool drinks and fruit desserts. Use dried peppermint leaves, added to boiling water to make a refreshing and digestive tea.
Make a yoghurt dressing with chopped mint leaves, natural yoghurt, garlic and salt and pepper for salads especially cucumber salad. Add to cold soups or hot tomato soups. Use to make curries. Be sure to use a sweet onion, and soak it in ice water so that you get the crunch but no harsh bite. Give lamb chops a Greek twist with the addition of fresh oregano and a minty yogurt sauce. If you have trouble finding the right size lamb loin chops, ask the butcher to cut them to the size you need.
For a thicker sauce, use Greek-style yogurt. Bright in color and flavor, our low-calorie Mint Margarita Slushie is so satisfying, you'll never know it's actually light. Light, herby, and vibrant tasting, this salad makes a fine addition to a meze spread. Make up to two hours ahead so flavors can meld. We love this dish with pistachios, but for a less expensive alternative, try walnuts.
Save the smallest mint leaves for a pretty, delicate garnish. Chill your glasses while the tea mixture chills. You can also shake the cocktail with ice before serving, but strain the ice before you pour. Grilled zucchini is great with olive oil and sea salt, but take the extra step and serve with this mint, parsley, and lemon gremolata. Mint and zucchini are a smart pairing in recipes, too, since both are such prolific producers in the garden.
Refrigerating the mint bars allows the chocolaty top layer to set properly. You can make the dessert up to one day ahead. This is the perfect warm weather cocktail. Made with fresh min, cilantro leaves, and chopped cucumber, it's refreshing and fabulous.
We were blown away by the rich flavor of this fast soup. Fennel gently cooks until it has a faint lick of licorice, then gets pureed with white beans for a silky texture. Enjoy fresh mussels any night of the week with this simple recipe that is bursting with the flavors of spring. Drink this to boost your daily veggie count: Each serving of this smoothie offers a half-cup of vegetables, plus a little fruit.
Ripe cucumbers and fresh mint create a light and easy summer side. This portable dish also packs well for a picnic. Mint is twice as refreshing in ice-cream form. The trick to getting your preferred mint flavor is in choosing spearmint or peppermint. Sweet mint, also labeled as spearmint, tastes sweeter when muddled for recipes, while peppermint has a faint menthol flavor.
Or try some of the flavored varieties like chocolate, apple, or citrusy orange mint. Boasting just 82 calories and a boatload of vitamin C, these double-decker popsicles feature a sweet-tart lemon layer topped with a minty watermelon layer.
If you prefer one flavor over the other, double the amount of ingredients required for each layer and make single flavored pops. Serve this colorful, healthier alternative to scalloped potatoes. The sweetness of the beets complements the cool flavor of fresh mint. Compliment pan-grilled lamb chops with chimichurri, a sauce made of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Floral lemon zest but no tart juice allows the sweet pea flavor to shine. Chop mint, grate lemon rind, and crumble cheese while the peas cook.
Serve with panini or other sandwiches, grilled chicken, or pork chops. The fish fillets should fit rather snugly in the pot with enough room for some shrimp to slip between the crevices. The braising liquid is a nifty mixture of chicken broth, white wine, and Thai green curry paste—available in most supermarkets these days. Instead of mint, tarragon or basil would be equally delicious. If desired, top with fresh lemon rind for a little extra zing. Grilling is the best way to cook corn on the cob; boiling just doesn't deliver the same intense sweetness.
This recipe's tangy herbal butter adds layers of flavor to that sweet base. Although imported swordfish is endangered, the population for North American species is healthy. Check with your fish seller to make sure the fish you purchase was caught in the United States or Canada. You can cut it frequently to keep it in control. Spearmint is most commonly used in cooking for many recipes, including lamb, vegetables, and of course, mint juleps and mojitos.
A hybrid of spearmint and water mint, peppermint is stronger than spearmint and is often used in tea and desserts. With fuzzy leaves, apple mint smells like Granny Smith apples, and is used to make tea or as a garnish, or can be added to salads. A variety of apple mint, pineapple mint has crinkled leaves with creamy edges, and can be used ornamentally in the garden. With mild, citrus flavored leaves, orange mint is good to use as a garnish or in salsas and salads because of its mild flavor.
Mint may be found at nurseries or farmers' markets. The apron sent to our viewer mail participant is from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's. Mint Varieties.
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