Mint is the refreshing plant par excellence. But not only: it is also one of the most common and easily used medicinal plants. Mint indeed has digestive, antiseptic, tonic and stimulating virtues among others.
It also has another peculiarity: it is particularly invasive.
Those who have mint in their garden know it very well, it is a plant that grows easily and quickly becomes abundant.
Use mint in the kitchen
Fresh and dynamic, it brings a touch of character to the preparations.
Mint, thirst quenching
Add fresh leaf in hot water, tea, lemonade, cold soup or even ... a mojito, mint has no equal to give this feeling green and thirst-quenching!
Make your syrup with mint
It is very easy to prepare mint syrup that will keep for a few weeks in the refrigerator.
Ingredients:
- 15 to 20 mint stalks
- 60 cl of water
- 600 g of sugar.
Put the leaves and sugar in a pan of cold water. Bring to a boil and boil 10 minutes. Cool, filter and store in a glass bottle.
Mint drinks
Generously add chopped mint to your cold drinks such as lemonade or your breakfast smoothie to add a pep's note.
For the aperitif, it is the essential ingredient of mojito (to consume with moderation of course).
Make Moroccan mint tea with green tea, an armful of fresh mint and sugar. The icy version is just as delicious!
Mint, flavor of choice
You know the basil pesto but do you know the mint version?
Pesto mint is very lively: you can replace all or part of the basil with mint following the classic recipe (oil, pine nut, parmesan and garlic). To be tested too, the sweet pesto of mint always with oil and pine nuts adding sugar.
She sprinkles herself in all dishes to give an oriental note.
Flavor butter with mint: to use in the kitchen or simply to spread.
Add some leaves in the steaming water to delicately flavor vegetables and fish.
Perfume your salad dressings with chopped mint and lemon. Mint is the essential ingredient for special sauces such as Greek tatziki and dhania chatni indian, a tasty chutney-style mint / coriander sauce.
Mint in your desserts
Do not forget the association mint chocolate, a delight much appreciated by the English but not that! Also try the hot mint chocolate.
At tea time or for breakfast, you will enjoy a toast with mint jelly.
Ingredients:
- 200 g of fresh leaves
- 30 cl of organic apple juice
- 1 kg of sugar
Infuse the pre-rinsed mint for 20 minutes in boiling water. Filter and pour into a saucepan or jam dish if you have any. Add the apple juice and sugar, and cook over high heat a good 1 / 4h stirring regularly. Put in sterile pots.
The virtues of mint for health and beauty
Not only is mint delicious, but it also has many uses in everyday life.
Mint to freshen the breath
Chewing a few mint leaves after the meal helps to freshen the breath.
You can also make a homemade mouthwash by brewing in boiling water. Let cool.
Mint to cure ailments
Mint is known for its revitalizing power. After a day of walking or if you feel tired, a foot bath with coarse salt and mint will give you a boost.
Mint also helps soothe headaches. For this, boil some fresh mint leaves in a saucepan and inhale the vapors.
Mint against unwanted
The delicate smell of mint is not liked by everyone: it repels the pests. Leave some mint leaves in the cupboards and drawers of the kitchen to keep ants away.
In the garden also mint repels unwanted. Sprinkle some mint leaves around your tomato or other cabbage plants to keep away ants and aphids.
If you have pets, use mint as a natural flea control: either by boiling and infusing mint leaves and you just have to apply on the coat of your dog or cat to the using a spray; rubbing your hands vigorously with mint leaves and stroking your pet.
Keep mint
Fresh mint keeps very well in the refrigerator. Pack it in absorbent paper beforehand. If you want to always have a fresh bunch of mint on hand, you can keep it in a glass of water.
Dried, mint retains its aroma for months. It must still be stored dry and protected from light.
Finally, the mint congeals very well: just chop the leaves finely and put them in a small container in the freezer.
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