Uses for mint

[CarolineW]

Hi, I hope I haven't chosen the wrong forum for this? I grow mint in my garden, but so far I've only ever used it to make mint tea (very nice). I see comments here and there in gardening magazines, etc, about how the gardener wouldn't know what to do in the kitchen without mint. Which has got me wondering, because to be honest, other than tea, I wouldn't know what to do with it in the kitchen

Does anyone have tips or ideas on what to do with it / how to use it?

Thanks!
Caroline

[scared55]

Find a recipe for Tabouleh - a middle eastern salad dish based on bulgar whear (or couscous). Delicious!

One possible recipe is here

KK

[Flummery]

Well I expect to be in a minority of one but I can't stand mint. I feel it spoils new potatoes, don't like mint sauce. Not even keen on it in toothpaste!

[Snadger]

As well as using mint sauce on new tatties and roast lamb I also use it on any fatty meat as it helps with digestion! Haven't tried it on a bacon buttie yet though!

[shirlthegirl43]

I love mint sauce on steamed white cabbage - lifts the flavour and makes it scrummy!

To make your own mint sauce, take a bunch of mint, remove stalks and wash it, chop it finely and place in a suitable dish with 2 level teaspoons of caster sugar. Stir in 1 tablespoon of boiling water and leave for about 5 minutes for the sugar to dissolve. Add 1-2 tablespoons of wine vinegar (malt will suffice), stir and leave for about an hour before serving.

Recipe courtesy of Good Housekeeping cookery book, which also offers recipes for:

carrots with mint and lemon
mint and apple jelly
mint and rosemary stuffing
minted pear vinaigrette
potted cheese with mint

Just ask if you want me to type any of the above recipes folks.

I would suggest making the mint sauce in larger batches if your family enjoys a decent dollop of mint sauce with their roast lamb.

[rustylady]

Few sprigs of mint chucked into new potatoes towards the end of cooking time really brings out the flavour of the spuds. Mint is also supposed to deter flies, so if you put a few stems in a jar of water in the kitchen it may help get rid of flies (I haven't found it effective, but you can only try). Fresh mint leaves go really well chopped on top of strawberries and cream. Try making your own mint sauce to go with lamb dishes. Basic recipe = chopped mint leaves, sugar and vinegar, quantities to suit your own taste

[Two_Sheds]

I HATE mint!
But I still grow it, why?
Because it's so willing, I think.

[terrier]

I think more to the point, is there anything that mint WON'T go with. My two favs are lamb and mint and fresh peas and mint... now I'm feeling hungry!

[shirlthegirl43]

I think more to the point, is there anything that mint WON'T go with. My two favs are lamb and mint and fresh peas and mint... now I'm feeling hungry!

I love mint too but always forget to throw it in with the veg. Possibly this is due to my trying to grow the stuff for years with no success. However, this year I have managed to keep alive an ordinary mint and a chocolate one - both have rooted shoots and I must get round to taking cuttings and setting them up on the kitchen windowsill for flavouring Christmas dinner.

[terrier]

Shirlthegirl43, I sowed mint in pots last year,the top growth dies off in the winter but come spring, it started to regrow in most pots. I planted the contents of the pots out early this summer and now I've got mint everywhere in the garden. I was told that even if you think that mint is dead, it isn't. Mint and chives...indestructable!

[Flummery]

I HATE mint!
But I still grow it, why?
Because it's so willing, I think.

Minority of two then!

[moggssue]

The only way I like mint is mint sauce - roast lamb just wouldn't be roast lamb without it. But any other way, not for me despite having a pot full of the stuff!! Whats chocolate mint, does it taste like chocolate....?!?!?!

[shirlthegirl43]

The only way I like mint is mint sauce - roast lamb just wouldn't be roast lamb without it. But any other way, not for me despite having a pot full of the stuff!! Whats chocolate mint, does it taste like chocolate....?!?!?!

smells like it, would offer to taste some but have such a bad cold i couldn't taste chilli!!

[moggssue]

Sorry you're not well Shirl, hope you get over it very soon and meanwhile get lots of tlc!! Think I might have to experiment with choc mint next year ... !!

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks for the good wishes.