What can I do with Mint?

Trying2Save_3

I've got lots of mint in the garden and I make mint sauce by chopping it up finely with granulated sugar and then putting some vinegar and a drop of hot water with it to serve with lamb. I just make enough to use and I was wondering how to make it to keep throughout the year and if there were any other wonderful things we could do with it?

ChocClare

You can make mint jelly instead of mint sauce - lasts for years, and tastes lovely!

You need:
5lb cooking apples
4 pints water
About 2.25lb sugar

Wash the apples, but don't peel or core. Cut into chunks. Stew in a pan with the water till soft and pulpy. Strain through a jelly bag at least 4 hours or overnight - until it stops dripping. (Don't push it through or it will be cloudy.) Measure the resulting liquid - allow 1lb of sugar for every pint of juice. Heat slowly until the sugar dissolves then bring to the boil and simmer until setting point is reached. (You test this by putting a saucer in the freezer for about 10 minutes; drop a bit of jelly onto it, leave a few minutes, then push with your finger - if it wrinkles, it's done, if not, put the pan back on the heat for another 10 mins or so. Chop in six to eight tablespoons of mint. (For a really minty taste, you can wrap mint up in muslin and boil it with the apple juice and sugar as well.) Pour into hot, sterilized jars (sterilize by washing the jars, then putting into a coolish oven to dry out), label and seal. I've got jellies I made at least 2 years ago which are still lovely. You can use other herbs as well - rosemary jelly - made exactly the same, but chop in rosemary instead of mint - is FANTASTIC with roast lamb - I've got a great recipe somewhere where you part-roast the lamb, then take it out of the oven, brush with rosemary jelly and put back in: the resultant glazed lamb is wonderful.

You can also make mint tea as a great summer drink, but I'm too tired now and am off to bed! If you want the recipe, I'll print it tomorrow!

penrith

I've also got tons of mint. Went round to the neighbours yesterday to ask how to preserve mint. (they're an old couple so used to OS living from when they were young. I've been regular visitor asking for tips & advice since i got into this OS living)

Use a ratio of 1/2lb sugar : 1/2 pint of distilled malt vinegar.

Sterilise your jars in the oven before use.
pick the mint leaves (no stalks) and chop them up finely (in a food processor?)
Heat the vinegar until the sugar disolves.
The layer the mint in the jar starting with mint, then cover it with the liquid, then more mint, then liquid etc etc. Make sure the last layer is liquid otherwise it will not preserve the mint.

MrsMW

I make a lovely currant and mint pasty. Just roll out pastry, sprinkle with currants and sugar, add a few pieces of butter and then a layer of chopped mint. Cover with pastry, seal edges and bake. Sorry I don't use any particular quantities.

KTFrugal

You can dry mint quite successfully for teas throughout the winter. Simply hang up the stalks in a dark, dry place where there is some airflow eg an airing cupboard or a closet with the door wedged open a little bit. When the leaves are brittle, strip them off the stalk, crumble them and use as tea.

To preserve mint's fresh flavour, you can freeze it in ice cubes: chop finely, stuff into ice cube trays and fill with water. Pop out the cubes into freezer bags. This is good in drinks as cubes or in casseroles and stews for a little mystery zing!

Bennifred

I have a friend who makes mint ice-cream - delicious! Sorry - haven't got recipe but might be worth experiMINTing (sorry, couldn't resist!)

squeaky

Most recipe use things like after eight mints (which is yummy) or peppermint extract, but there's one that uses proper mint Here.

Lucie_2

Try here I googled "uses for mint" & it came up with loads of ideas.
Don't forget to chop & sprinkle over boiled new potatoes.

Str4berr3

Look up for some Vietnamese (hope i spelt it right.) recipes as they use alot of Mint Leaves in their dishes.

Trying2Save_3

Just bought the apples to make the mint jelly, but didn't see the bit about a jelly bag. What is a jelly bag? and where do I buy one?

KTFrugal

A jelly bag is a thick fabric bag shaped like a pointy hat on a round frame. You wet it with boiling water, then put fruit in it (some need to be warmed first to get the juices running) and let it drip out into a bowl. You have to hang it up by its straps from a broom handle between two chairs, or a similar arrangement.


To see if jelly making is really in your future, you can improvise by dripping the fruit juice through a scalded pillowcase that you are willing to have stained to death. Then you just clothes pin it to the support beam that you have rigged up.

For clear fruit juice, DO NOT squeeze the fruit, let it drip naturally. You get less of a yield, but a nice clear sparkly end result.

Old fashioned iron monger type places have jelly bags for a tenner or so, if you feel it is your new calling.

Have fun.