What can I do with extra mint? [closed]

Question

I usually use only a small portion of the bunch of mint that I purchase. What can I do with the rest to make the best use of it while it's fresh?

Answer 1

It's spring, so serve a traditional British dish - lamb with mint sauce:

2 large handfuls fresh mint leaves, finely chopped.
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp apple juice
1 tbsp caster sugar

Mix together all the ingredients and leave to infuse for about an hour before serving. 

Or how about a mint julep?

4 fresh mint sprigs
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 tsp icing sugar
2 tsp water

Muddle mint leaves, sugar and water in a Collins glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice and add bourbon. Carnish with a mint sprig.

Search the BBC's recipes here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/search?page=2&keywords=mint&x=0&y=0

Answer 2

make mint tea! it is sooooo good, and it will use up alot of your mint!

Answer 3

Mint milkshakes! Make a vanilla milkshake as normal, but put a mint leaf or two into the blender.

Answer 4

If you are adventurous try this mint chutney. My wife cheats and uses peanut butter instead of grinding the peanuts...

1 cup cleaned washed and drained coriander 1/4 cup cleaned washed and drained mint leaves (pudina) 3 green chillies 1/2 lemon 20-25 peanuts salt as per taste Method Chop the coriander, mint leaves coarsely. Put all ingredients in a small blender . Blend till smooth. Add very little water if required. Remove with a rubber spatula. Store in a clean dry airtight bottle in refrigerator. Use on buttered toast, bread or in sandwiches as seasoning.

Answer 5

A really simple way to store mint is to chop roughly, and freeze in ice cube trays with water (maybe 1 tsp or 1/2 tsp per cube) -- you'll end up with mint ice, which can be used to flavor drinks, or used in whatever recipe you originally used the mint in. (Or if you like mint flavor in shakes, use them in place of regular ice cubes for making smoothies or milkshakes.) Once the cubes are frozen, put them in a ziploc bag and it can store for months!

Answer 6

I recently cooked up a batch of Mint & Ginger cordial following this recipe, but without the lemon. I use it for adding to lime juice, rum, and lemonade/club soda as a slightly gingery Mojito

Answer 7

Mint Watermelon:

Slice watermelon, place in tin foil. Add mint (on stems or pull the leaves off) between all the slices. Cover with tin foil. (any container will work, don't have to use foil) Let sit for at least 2 hours in fridge, longer as you like.

Answer 8

Just eat it. Better than gum. Great for fresh breath.

Answer 9

Many times people don't think of using mint in salads, or in stir-frys or things like that. Find recipes that call for basil or even other non-aromatic greens, and see if you can substitute in a little mint. Mint generally pairs well with dishes that call for a citrus like lime or lemon, and of course there are a million drinks and desserts that are improved by throwing in some mint.

For preserving mint, you can mince it and if you have an extra ice cube tray, you can even freeze it into single-use portions to put in dishes in the future.

Answer 10

Hang it in a dark, dry place to dry it out. Strip the leaves off for tea later in the year.

Answer 11

Here are some ideas for you (all from my blog; not trying to be too self promoting, I just happen to like fresh mint a lot and use it many different ways):

Cucumber, Zucchini and Mint Salad

Chopped Salad

French Lentil Salad

Caramelized Cauliflower Fritatta

Vietnamese Mango Salad

Arroz Verde

Answer 12

I love new potatoes when they're boiled with fresh mint.

Answer 13

I don't know about 'best use', but you could make a mint simple syrup, and you'd be able to hold that longer than the fresh mint, and be able to use it in desserts, drinks, etc.

Answer 14

If you have a month to spare and enjoy a nice digestif after a good meal, you might try making homemade Crème de menthe.

Some recipes will call for pepermint extract, but if you approach your solution in the same style as you would to make limoncello, a popular Italian digestivo, you'll use your fresh mint leaves, soaking the leaves in grain alcohol for several weeks, then filtering the mixture and adding simple syrup.

Answer 15

Make a mojito!

• 4.0 cl (1.3 oz) white rum
• 3.0 cl (1 oz) fresh lime juice
• 3 sprigs mint
• 2 tsp simple syrup (or sugar)
• Club soda

Gently muddle the lime juice, sugar, and mint in the bottom of a highball glass. Add rum and stir. Finish with ice and club soda. Garnish with lime and mint if you desire.

Answer 16

mint chocolate chip ice cream, mojitos, cantaloupe juice with finely chopped mint, marinade for lamb...

Answer 17

Mint Tea if you are a fan.

Never done it myself, just what popped into my head.

Looks like there are plenty of recipes/methods to try:
http://www.google.com/search?q=mint+tea+from+fresh+mint

Answer 18

Tzatziki is a favourite of mine with yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and mint. It's fairly adaptable and is especially good on a hot summers day.