Mint is a notoriously prolific plant. You can’t even companion plant it among other crops without it taking over and spreading all over the place. Nevertheless, it’s easy-to-grow and tasty leaves make a wonderful addition to any garden. If you’ve incorporated one of the 600 varieties out there into your backyard this year and are wondering how you can make the most of the bountiful harvest, here are few clever ideas.
Steeping some tea is a delicious way to use mint when it’s taking over the garden. You can dehydrate the leaves in a dehydrator or low-temperature oven, removing all moisture before stashing them in a glass jar on the pantry shelf for warm cups to sip on when you’re feeling the need for a little pick-me-up. You can also steep the fresh leaves in boiling water, add honey, lemon slices and ice cubes and enjoy a rich and flavorful iced version.
Ever tried mint jelly? It may sound a little outside the box if you’re mostly accustomed to sweet fruit jellies spread on toast (and hey, those are some of our favorites, too). But mint jelly makes a tasty, tangy addition to grilled or roasted lamb – especially if you spread it on toasted bread while whipping up a hearty lamb sandwich.
You can’t go wrong with a classic pesto recipe. But if you find yourself swimming in mint leaves and short on basil when pizza night rolls around, pesto just might be your saving grace. This garnish is great on pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads. It would also add a bright pop of flavor to your favorite Tuscan soup recipe.
Refreshing mint meets cream and sugar in this popsicle recipe. All it takes is a cup of fresh mint leaves, whole milk, whipping cream and sugar to create an addictive summertime treat. Children and adults alike will be begging you to keep these stocked in the freezer all summer long, so maybe just go ahead and make a double (or triple) batch.
Mint is one of the most popular herbs to grow in home gardens. With its refreshing flavor and aroma this versatile herb has a myriad of uses in recipes, beverages beauty products, and more. When mint is happily growing, it can quickly take over your garden beds or containers. While the vigorous growth requires some maintenance, it also provides abundant harvests that beg to be used creatively. Read on for 10 unique ways to put all that garden-fresh mint to delicious use.
Make Refreshing Beverages
One of the most classic uses for mint is infusing it into cool drinks for a refreshing taste The options are practically endless when it comes to making minty beverages
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Mint tea – Harvest mint leaves and let them steep in hot water for a soothing caffeine-free tea. Sweeten with a bit of honey if desired.
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Mint lemonade – Muddle fresh mint with lemon juice and simple syrup, then mix with cold water or club soda for homemade lemonade.
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Mojitos – The quintessential Cuban cocktail features mint as a star ingredient. Muddle mint leaves with lime juice, sugar, rum and club soda for an iconic summer sipper.
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Infused water – Add crushed mint leaves to a pitcher of ice water for all-day hydration with flavor. Cucumber and fruit pair nicely too.
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Iced tea – Brew your favorite black or herbal tea, then chill and mix with torn mint leaves. Sweeten if you like.
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Mint juice – Blend mint leaves with pineapple juice, lime, and ice for a sweet and tangy beverage.
Enhance Desserts
Mint’s cooling flavor makes it an ideal addition to chilled desserts on hot days. Here are some sweet ways to use mint from the garden:
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Make mint chocolate chip ice cream by adding fresh mint to your favorite recipe. You can also churn mint ice cream using condensed milk for an easy shortcut.
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Mix crumbled mint cookies like thin mints into ice cream sundaes. The cookies add nice texture and more minty flavor.
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Make mint chocolate bark by melting chocolate, spreading on a sheet pan, sprinkling with dried mint and letting it harden.
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Stir shredded fresh mint into chocolate pudding for a classic flavor pairing.
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Blend mint into your next fruit smoothie for additional nutrients and coolness.
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Make mint simple syrup to drizzle over cakes, fruit salads and sorbet. Just simmer mint leaves in equal parts sugar and water.
Season Savory Dishes
While we often associate mint with sweets, it can also enhance many savory recipes. Consider these ideas:
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Make tabbouleh salad with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, parsley and plenty of fresh chopped mint.
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Add mint to pesto in addition to the traditional basil. Use on pasta, sandwiches and more.
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Mix mint into fruit salsa to serve with fish, pork or chicken. Mango, peach and strawberry work well.
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Toss shredded mint into green salads for a fresh pop of flavor.
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Stir chopped mint into lemonade potato salad or creamy coleslaw.
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Make mint rice by stirring mint leaves into the water used for cooking rice. Fluff the rice with butter or oil once cooked.
Mix Creative Cocktails
Bartenders commonly use mint as an aromatic garnish, but mint can star as the featured flavor in many drinks too. Shake up your home bar with these mint cocktail recipes:
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The classic Mint Julep mixes mint, bourbon and sugar for a true taste of the American South.
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A Mojito showcases rum, mint, lime and soda water for a crisp, refreshing cocktail.
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For a fun mocktail, muddle mint with orange juice, ginger ale and grenadine over ice to make Minty Spritzers.
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Add vodka and triple sec to mint, lime and simple syrup for a mint cosmos with a twist.
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Infuse vodka or gin with fresh mint for a few days, then use the infused spirit to make creative cocktails.
Make Mint Extract
One way to preserve your mint harvest for months of use is to make mint extract. Simply fill a clean glass jar with fresh mint leaves, then pour in enough vodka to cover the leaves completely. Screw the lid on and store the jar in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain out the leaves and you’re left with a handy mint extract to add bold flavor to baked goods, beverages and more.
Craft Home & Beauty Products
Mint’s clean, refreshing scent makes it a popular addition to many homemade health and beauty items. Here are some ideas to try:
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Make mint body scrub by mixing coarse salt or sugar with olive oil and chopped mint leaves. Use on rough skin.
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Blend mint, witch hazel and essential oils into mint toner to refresh skin after cleansing.
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Craft a mint room spray with water, vodka, mint oil and a drop of soap. Mist to freshen indoor air.
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Mix chopped mint leaves into mint bath salts for an invigorating soak.
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Add a few drops of mint essential oil to plain hair conditioner or shampoo to stimulate the scalp.
Repel Pests Naturally
Mint can also be used to help repel common garden pests, thanks to its strong scent. Here are some tips for putting mint to work:
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Plant mint around the edges of vegetable gardens to deter certain insects. The smell confuses their senses.
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Make mint leaf spray by boiling mint in water and straining. Let it cool before spraying on affected plants.
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Rub bruised mint leaves directly on skin to repel mosquitoes. You can also grow mint in pots near patio seating areas.
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Place open bowls of chopped mint around patios and decks to help keep spiders away.
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Mint potpourri sachets in drawers and closets can deter moths and ants from clothing and stored items.
Preserve Mint for Later Use
You may not be able to use up all your fresh mint over the summer. Luckily, mint is very easy to preserve by drying or freezing. Here are some options:
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Air dry mint by hanging small bundles in a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight. Crumble the dried leaves to store in jars.
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Dehydrate individual mint leaves in a food dehydrator set to 95°F until fully dried.
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Freeze mint leaves on a baking sheet before transferring to freezer bags. Use frozen mint straight from the freezer.
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Pack chopped mint in ice cube trays with a bit of water. Pop out the cubes to add to drinks.
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Infuse mint into vinegar, honey or oil. This imparts mint flavor for endless recipes.
With this wide variety of uses for fresh mint, you can savor the bounty from your garden in many creative ways. Enjoy experimenting with these mint-inspired recipes and refreshingly flavored home products.
Mint Ice Cubes
You know you need to stay hydrated in the summer, but drinking plain water day isn’t much fun. Rather than turning to soda or other flavored beverages, you can simply grab a few of your homemade ice cubes from the freezer and suddenly that fifth glass of water is suddenly much tastier.
Get the recipe from Food Republic
Cool mint and sweet-tart lemonade make a perfect pair. Add fresh watermelon and you’ve got the perfect summertime treat to sip on beside the pool or at the beach. You could even add rum and replace the lemon juice with lime to turn this recipe into a refreshing watermelon mojito – it just might become your go-to summer cocktail.
Infused vinegar is all the rage, and it’s easy as pie to make your own. All you need is a base vinegar, a few sprigs of fresh mint and a few minutes to warm the vinegar on the stove. You could adapt this recipe to make a purely mint vinegar, but we love the addition of rosemary. The end result? A beautiful vinegar to accompany freshly sliced tomatoes or tomato soup or add a pleasant kick to Bloody Marys.
Get the recipe from Larder Love
How to Harvest/Prune Mint & What to Do With All That Mint?
FAQ
What can I do with too much fresh mint?
Mojitos, frozen or not. Tabouleh, add it to iced tea, infuse water for making soap, make a mint simple syrup for cocktails, nibble for breath freshening, use as an astringent….
What to do with a garden full of mint?
As someone who had several types of mint absolutely take over the garden, let me recommend potting them up, instead. Mint, like other strong smelling plants can be cut and simply spread over areas with basically the same effect. Just make sure to remove any flowers first or you could accidentally seed out the area.