# What to do with all this mint? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471 "2013-07-02T19:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/1 "2013-07-02T19:09:28Z")
In a moment of what I can only assume was blind hysteria, we planted three kinds of mint a couple of years ago, which is now rivaling the Amazon rain forest in verdancy. Lemon mint, Moroccan mint, and spearmint. I don’t know how to make breath mints or gum and there’s only so much tea one can drink. I’m hoping dopers can help a brother out; it’s either that or I call in a napalm strike. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/2 "2013-07-02T19:11:34Z")
Mojitos and Mint Juleps usually decimate my mint stash. If you can’t use them up that way, you need to get better friends. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/3 "2013-07-02T19:33:21Z")
Mint dries well and keeps well in dried form; you can use it to make tea, or infuse it into all sorts of things (your shampoo, for instance). This was the top result for “drying mint” and has a lot of good ideas (and photos): > **[Welcome foodperson.com - BlueHost.com](http://foodperson.com/2008/07/07/drying-mint/)** > > Bluehost - Top rated web hosting provider - Free 1 click installs For blogs, shopping carts, and more. Get a free domain name, real NON-outsourced 24/7 support, and superior speed. web hosting provider php hosting cheap web hosting, Web hosting,... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/4 "2013-07-02T19:42:50Z")
[Green Pea, Mint, Bacon Risotto](http://localfoods.about.com/od/risottos/r/Green-Pea-Mint-Bacon-Risotto.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/5 "2013-07-02T19:49:20Z")
[Tabbouleh](http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tabbouleh-i/)! ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/6 "2013-07-02T20:08:32Z")
OK, get a couple of newborn lambs. Wait about six months… ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/7 "2013-07-02T20:09:00Z")
Don’t know about your side if the pond, but try a recipe search for English mint sauce (or jelly). I’ve only ever made it and eaten it straight away, but I see no reason why you couldn’t make batches, and bottle or can it to use up large amounts. English mint sauce is tart, jelly is more jam-like and sweet. Both are effin delicious with lamb. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/8 "2013-07-02T21:34:57Z")
I’ve let the spearmint start wandering out via runners etc. into our lawn. Doesn’t bother me one bit - smells so nice during/after mowing the lawn! I guess you could try stuffing a small pillow with it for sweetly-scented nighty-night time … ? ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/9 "2013-07-02T22:09:14Z")
I second tabbouli Cucumber raita Put it in a salad with feta cheese ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/10 "2013-07-02T22:15:25Z")
Mint simple syrup. Heat up a ~1:1 mix of sugar and water. Heat until the sugar dissolves and the solution turns clear. Throw in a bunch o’ mint. Let steep about half an hour. Strain into a (preferably glass) container. Keeps in the fridge for…well, as long as I can be bothered. Handy stuff. Great base for quick mojitos or juleps. Mix with club soda for the most refreshing soda I’ve ever had. Use to flavor hot or iced tea. Add to sauces. Mix with citrus juice and put in an ice cream maker for amazing sorbet. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/11 "2013-07-03T04:46:53Z")
With your love of Indian food, make fresh mint chutney! Or mint-coriander chutney. I think it freezes, too. It may lose some of the color, but I have some frozen store-bought mint-coriander chutney in the freezer right now. It thaws out fine and tastes delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/12 "2013-07-03T05:03:33Z")
Couscous with mint and feta. Lovely stuff. It can be served warm or cold. you can also make mint ice cream by steeping a big handful of mint in the cream and then straining it out. There’s also the three ingredient watermelon salad that was big two years ago: red onions, watermelon, and mint. I sympathize. I have two kinds of mint running rampant in my flower beds. I’ve left the oregano and the mint in an extreme battle to see which plant takes over first. The chocolate mint seems to not be as hardy as the spearmint and is losing ground. So far after five years it’s still neck and neck between the other two herbs but I seem to no longer have phlox or thyme which used to be in the same bed. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/13 "2013-07-03T10:22:33Z")
We use ours for tzatziki or for beetroot and mint dip. We still have too much of the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/14 "2013-07-03T11:20:02Z")
Put it in your lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/15 "2013-07-03T13:03:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Put it in your lemonade. Also, a chiffonade of mint is great in a fruit salad. Try it sometime…it’s really good! ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/16 "2013-07-03T13:06:12Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Put it in your lemonade. Better still, put it in a [Pimms and lemonade.](http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/may/18/pimms) Oh, and delve deeply into North African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Mint everywhere. And delicious it is too. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/17 "2013-07-03T13:59:51Z")
[My favorite potato salad.](http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Salad-with-Mint-and-Peas-109647) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/18 "2013-07-03T14:37:41Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Mojitos and Mint Juleps usually decimate my mint stash. +1 Having mojitos and mint juleps can put a serious dent in a mint patch. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/19 "2013-07-03T14:39:09Z")
Now that the hot weather is here, this [Chilled Spring Pea Soup with Mint](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/06/05/tony%E2%80%99s-table-chilled-spring-pea-with-mint/) is one of my favorite light lunches. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471/20 "2013-07-03T14:45:29Z")
As mentioned before, mint has an affinity with lamb. There’s probably some good kofta recipe out there with mint chopped up and mixed in with the meat. Also, used in Georgian cooking, mint is nice when paired with other herbs in a dish called [chakhokhbili.](http://www.yasalamcooking.com/chakhokhbili/?replytocom=1198) That particularly recipe calls for equal parts mint, cilantro, and parsley, but I would say that tarragon, basil, and dill are also important components. [Here is another recipe.](http://www.recipe-quest.com/messages/61313/50925.html) I’m generally not a big fan of mint in sweets, but I like it in Middle Eastern and Caucasian main course recipes. So don’t think of it only as a “sweet” thing to be used for desserts and cocktails. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-all-this-mint/662471.md?page=2)