topic Re: Spearmint in Recipes

Spearmint

Elom — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 23:39:41 GMT

I was given a bunch of fresh spearmint. What would I use this for? She said tea but ugh don’t feel like tea. Any suggestions?

Re: Spearmint

nana59 — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 23:49:06 GMT

used to grow spearmint...but not anymore....just didn't use it....except for iced tea and occasionally just ate a leaf as a breath freshener! never came across recipes that included mint....love the smell it left on my fingers when i used it!!

Re: Spearmint

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:11:57 GMT

Mint Juleps.

Re: Spearmint

MJDinVegas — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:14:08 GMT

Look for a tabbouleh recipe, a grain supplemented with veggies, like tomato and cucumber; mint is one of the herbs used. MyRecipes has a good recipe for Farro Tabbouleh Salad

Re: Spearmint

Gr8Auntie — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:14:39 GMT

I add a sprig or two to a gallon of iced tea. It is very refreshing. Another idea is mint jelly. Here is a recipe from a previous poster.....Antilope

Mint Jelly ~ Antilope

1 cup tightly packed mint leaves (any kind of mint)

1 cup water

1/2 cup cider vinegar

3-1/2 cups sugar

5 drops food coloring (usually green)

3 ounces liquid pectin

Wash mint, remove stems, coarsely chop leaves. Put mint leaves, water, vinegar and sugar into heavy kettle and bring quickly to a full boil, stirring constantly. Remove kettle from heat, add food coloring and pectin, return liquid to a full boil for 30 seconds. Remove immediately from heat, skim, strain through two layers of damp cheesecloth and pour into hot, sterile jelly jars. Seal.

(Makes 3-4 1/2 pint jars.)

I've never made it because I'm not fond of mint jelly, but I've given mint to family members who enjoy it with lamb. (I'm also not fond of lamb.) Hope you get more ideas from other posters. Good luck. gr8auntie

Re: Spearmint

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:17:58 GMT

I use mint in many things - pasta salad, garden salad, pickled squash/cucumbers - heck, tonight I even included some in DH's hamburger patty. Eggs. Garnish for cooked vegetables.

The thing is (said a well-known QVC host), if you are going to have copious quantities, you might as well just grow it yourself. It's best when just picked, and it's really easy to grow. I have peppermint and chocolate mint in containers. It will go bonkers in the ground, though I've used it in place of a lawn in spots and it is just heavenly to mow.

Re: Spearmint

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 01:04:26 GMT

@Gr8Auntie. Yum, love mint jelly with lamb.

Mint is very easy to grow but takes a ton of water. It's often grown by faucets where it gets constant drips. It also likes lots of sun.

Re: Spearmint

jannabelle1 — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 01:20:14 GMT

I guess the person who gave you the fresh spearmint either had too much of it or didn't know what to do with it either (except for tea)! This is just me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find recipes to use it. To me it's more of a garnish or light herb, and if I didn't have a use for it in the next few days I'd have to toss it.

Re: Spearmint

Elom — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 02:47:46 GMT

Jannebelle I think you are absolutely right. My trash will smell minty fresh!,,,

Re: Spearmint

RespectLife — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:15:31 GMT

I absolutely LOVE fresh mint and grown it every year.

I use it in a lot of dishes but NEVER in my tea! LOL!

I use it in:

Fresh fruit salads

Esp. with watermellon (mint & feta, YUM!)

On tomatoes, esp a caprese salad. I chop it with the fresh basil

On cukes with a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar

As mentioned, fab on eggs!

Use it in many sauces such as cream or hollandaise

On fish dishes w/ lemon or garlic