What to do with leftover fresh mint
Fresh mint is a herb used in both sweet and savoury dishes and adds a fresh flavour. Discover how you can use up leftover fresh mint here.
What is mint?
Mint is a culinary herb, that can grow to around 1m tall. One of the great things about mint is: the more you pick it, the more it tends to grow! It’s quite invasive if you have it growing free in your garden, so keep it under control in a large pot – but water regularly. As it’s a perennial, it should come back each year – usually around April.
Can you freeze mint?
If you’re really overrun with the fresh stuff, pick mint leaves, wash them, chop them finely, then put into ice cube trays. Once the mint is frozen, you can pop out and put into a freezer bag.
Three recipes with fresh mint
How to use up leftover fresh mint leaves
If you have just a small handful of mint or a few leaves, try these ideas:
- Lemon and mint yogurt
Mix finely chopped mint leaves into Greek yogurt, then season to taste with lemon juice, pepper and sea salt. Serve with grilled salmon fillets or alongside a spicy curry or stew. - Mint and raspberry fizz
Crush raspberries in a jug with a little sugar, then strain and divide among champagne flutes. Top with chilled fizz, a squeeze of lime juice and a mint sprig. - Pea and mint pesto
Whizz a few handfuls of peas with a small handful each of mint and pine nuts, 1/2 garlic clove and a generous squeeze of lemon juice in a mini food processor. Pulse in olive oil to form a chunky pesto. Season with sea salt, then serve on crostini or stirred into pasta.