fresh mint?

i just picked up a bundle of mint at the farmer's market today. it smells amazing, but i have limited ideas on how to cook with it. any ideas?

Me too!  It was a huge bunch for a dollar and it's scenting my entire kitchen. 

I mostly make mint tea.  Wash several stems of leaves and put them into a pitcher, stems and all.  Pour boiling water over and let it steep until it's cooled.  Strain, sweeten and serve.  You can also mix it with regular iced tea.

It's good chopped in salads.  There's a famous middle eastern salad, tabouli, that made from cracked wheat and dressed with mint and lemon juice.  Here's how to make it.  They show it being made with parsley, but the traditional herb is fresh mint.  I actually use both, and I use less olive oil and less salt.  You can also make a version of this using cooked brown rice or other grains, but the wheat has a really nice texture. 

edited to add:  The traditional way to serve tabouli is on romaine lettuce leaves.  Use the leaves from the heart as a scoop.

Make a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, green bell peppers and red onion and toss it with chopped mint and lemon juice.  Chill for at least an hour before serving. 

Mint makes a pretty garnish for desserts and fruit salads too.

I love fresh mint! I even put it in my water along w/cucumbers & lemon. Very cleansing & refreshing  =) Enjoy!

I absolutely love mint with berries: cereal, yogurt or kefir, strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon & mint = perfect breakfast in my book.

There is a feta/watermelon/mint salad that has got some traction on some other boards. Check http://www.nigella.com/recipes/recipe.asp?art icle=1253

I personally haven't tried it, but I do make a variation of this - smoked salmon, mint, melon/cantaloupe, and lots of lemon juice and cracked pepper.

It's great with peas.  Yes, I'm serious.

Not just peas but any seasonal summer veggies!  It's a british classic....

You can make a dip using low fat soft cheese and finely chopped mint or the indian dip, riata (hope I spelled that correctly!) which is yogurt, mint and cucumber.

Have you ever tried mint chutney? Here is how you make it:

Grind mint leaves, Cilantros, and green chilli together and add them to fat free yogurt and add salt.

You can have it with chicken or any other roasted meat.

 

Faux-jito

 

This is a fresh and cool summer drink we serve instead of lemonade.

 

1 lime quartered

5-6 fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup water (sweetened...I use splenda) = simple syrup

1/2 cup diet club soda

ice cubes

 

Squeeze lime juice and bruise the mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass. Add simple syrup, club soda, and ice cubes. Cover the glass and shake or transfer to a martini shaker and shake for 5-6 seconds. Garnish with lime. Enjoy!

Servings: 1