Mint is a delicious herb and one of the easiest to grow. There are so many ways to use it from drinks to salads to main courses and more. I've gathered over 50 of the best fresh mint recipes and how to preserve mint. If you are growing mint, save or Pin this post and try all of these delicious recipes and ideas.
Jump to:
- How To Preserve Mint By Drying Or Freezing
- Health Benefits Of Mint
- Types Of Mint
- Mint For Relaxation
- Fresh Mint Tea
- Cool Refreshers
- Smoothies
- Cocktails
- Healthy and Fresh Mint Salad Recipes
- Appetizers
- Sauce, Dip + Pesto
- Soup
- Minted Veggies
- Best Mint Main Courses
- Bread
- Re(Fresh)ing Mint Desserts
- More Great Fresh Herb Recipes
- Pin It For Next Time
- Get My Free Book
- 10 Herbs 10 Ways
- 💬 Community
This is part of my series on herbs and how to use them beyond just a garnish. Also check out 3 Ways To Preserve (And Use) Your Lavender, 20 Recipes To Use and Preserve Lavender, and 20 Best Parsley Recipes and The Best Herbs To Substitute For Parsley In Recipes.
If you love foraging, read Wild Foods To Forage In Spring.
How To Preserve Mint By Drying Or Freezing
To dry, hang in a well ventilated place until dry or speed up the process by putting on parchment in your oven set on the lowest temperature (150'F) or a dehydrator. Once dry, store in jars in your cupboard to keep away light and moisture. Here's a more in depth post on how to dry mint leaves.
To freeze there are 2 methods. You can puree, mix with a small amount of olive or other vegetable oil and freeze in ice cube trays and transfer to airtight containers once froze. Alternatively you can freeze clean, dry mint in a large bag.
Once frozen, crumble it up and store in small containers or bags in your freezer. Frozen and dried mint can be used for any of these fresh mint recipes that have mint cooked in. Dry mint is not as potent as frozen or fresh.
Health Benefits Of Mint
There are many health benefits to mint. It's used to ease digestive upset, tension headaches and believed to be beneficial for the common cold because of its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. This mint tea is the perfect way to sooth what ails you.
Mint is stimulating and makes us feel more energized just by smelling it! When I'm out in my garden, I like to brush by it or wave my hand through it to breathe in it's refreshing scent.
(Note: Mint can be invasive in the garden so many people will plant it in pots instead of straight in the garden.)
Types Of Mint
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, there are 25 different types of mint. Common types for cooking and growing include peppermint, spearmint and Moroccan mint. There is mojito mint from Cuba, pineapple mint, apple mint, chocolate mint and wild mint too, among many others. Check out the varieties at your local garden shop and grow few!
Mint For Relaxation
Add some fresh mint leaves to your bath along with some bath salts for a soothing soak. You can hang a fresh bunch of mint in your shower for a wonderful way to wake up.
Fresh Mint Tea
One of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh mint in the spring is in hot tea. Simply add a handful of fresh mint to a mug and pour hot water over top. Steep for 5 minutes and enjoy. Try the variations below or chill it and serve over ice for refreshing mint iced tea.
Kate's Fresh Peppermint Tea
This is as simple as can be and what a wonderful and easy way to use mint. Fresh hot mint tea is soothing and refreshing at the same time. A great way to wake up or wind down at the end of the day.
Sweeten with honey or sugar if desired but Kate likes hers unsweetened with just the beautiful fresh mint flavour.
Fresh Mint Leaf Tea
Deliciously Spiced Orange Mint Tea
This orange mint tea tastes fantastic during any season. It’s a perfect refreshment in summer, but it can keep you warm in winter too!
Nettle and Mint Tea
Fresh nettle and mint tea has a refreshing flavour, and is good for you. It’s uplifting and free from caffeine.
Cool Refreshers
Paired up with simple ingredients like lemon or lime juice, fizzy soda water or sliced cucumber, mint makes a great drink for any time of day. Mix up a jug to keep in your fridge or put out fresh ingredients for everyone to make their own at a party.
Cucumber, Lemon, and Mint Water
This gorgeous and refreshing cucumber, lemon, and mint water is perfect for serving at parties or solo sipping.
Refreshingly Cold Lemon Mint Juice (Lebanese Lemonana)
Refreshing lemon mint juice aka Lebanese Lemonana. Freshly juiced whole lemons, lime, fresh mint leaves that have been naturally sweetened.
Strawberry Mint Limeade
An easy to make strawberry mint limeade that’s sweet, sour, and packed with fresh summer flavor.
Virgin Mojito (Mocktail Recipe)
This Virgin Mojito recipe is the most refreshing & easy non-alcoholic summer mocktail! The perfect sparkling blend of lime, mint, & sweetness!
Smoothies
These recipes are full of fresh ideas and plenty of fresh mint! These are a great way to perk up any fruity smoothie and put mint to good use.
Pineapple Mint Lassi
Pineapple Mint Lassi - Sweet and Tangy Lassi with fresh Mint leaves and pineapple. An absolute summer quencher with the goodness of yogurt, pineapple and mint.
Mango Mint Green Smoothie
This green mango mint smoothie is vegan, healthy yet deliciously perfect for summer. You’ll need only 4 ingredients and 1 blender.
Minty Pineapple Cucumber Green Smoothie
I thought I’d change things up a bit when I made this Minty Pineapple Cucumber Green Smoothie. It’s veggie packed but still sweet and really refreshing.
Mint Smoothie Bowl
This get your greens mint smoothie bowl recipe is so good! It tastes like mint chip ice cream, yet is healthy and so easy to make.
Cocktails
Mint is essential in delicious mojitos with tart lime and the classic mint julep recipe with bourbon and lots of crushed ice. Here are a few more tasty mint cocktails and a few twists on the classic mojito. Cheers!
Gin Mojito
The crisp juniper flavor pairs so well with mint, this is my new favorite summer drink. Give this a try and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Gin Mojito
How to Make a Hugo (Sparkling Wine + Elderflower Cocktail)
For an adult drink, try a twist on the traditional wine spritzer. Created in Northern Italy, this Hugo recipe has a hint of mint and elderflower, with a bubbly finish. An elegant and unexpected spritzer or aperitif for summer's best parties. In other words, the perfect summer drink.
Puerto Rican Mojitos
Puerto Rican Mojitos are a refreshingly citrusy and effervescent rum drink that’s perfect for hot weather or enjoying a cocktail at home.
Raspberry Mojito
This raspberry mojito is my new favorite cocktail, they are soft, refreshing and the perfect combination of lemon acid and sweet raspberries.
Mulberry Mojitos
Cool off with a refreshing Mulberry Mojito! You’ll love this twist on the classic mojito. Use blackberries or blueberries if you can’t find mulberries.
Healthy and Fresh Mint Salad Recipes
One of the easiest ways to use mint is in a bright summer salad. A handful of mint goes a long way to making a quick salad so flavorful. Fresh mint dressing over a colorful salad makes a really satisfying side dish to roasted meats or try the bean and mint salad to make it a main course.
Pea Salad with Mint and Feta
Peas are usually thought of as a simple side but with a few ingredients and lots of fresh mint they are transformed into a salad with so much flavor. Fresh, light and easy to make, this pea salad with mint and feta is delicious and comes together in just a few minutes.
Watermelon Mint Salad
This really simple, super juicy, watermelon mint salad will keep you feeling cool as a cucumber during the warmer summer months! A quick salad with just a few ingredients, this is the perfect hot weather salad.
Zucchini Salad with Feta and Fresh Mint
Zucchini salad is a delicious side dish, made with ribbons of zucchini, crumbled feta cheese, then brightened up with lemon and mint. Low carb & gluten free
Mango Cucumber Salad With Avocado and Fresh Mint
If you’re a fan of vibrant summer salads, you’re in for a treat with our Mango Cucumber Salad, your go-to salad for BBQs and sunny gatherings.
Grilled Squid Salad with Fresh Herbs
This quick and easy restaurant-quality grilled squid salad features squid cooked quickly over high heat to give it a little char and aroma. It is then tossed with plenty of refreshing herbs, roasted nuts and dressing for more flavors and textures. Serve it as a starter or pair it up with some pita or crusty bread for a main course.
Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
Fresh green parsley, mint and oregano, red wine vinegar and cauliflower come together into a hearty and flavorful Mediterranean salad. This salad can be made ahead and is both gluten-free and vegan.
Minty Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
Easy Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad
This fresh veggie packed Easy Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad is gluten free and dairy free as well. It’s easy to make and perfect to pack for lunches too!
Orange Pomegranate Salad with Mint Lime Dressing
Orange and pomegranate salad with mint lime vinaigrette is a beautiful salad that makes a showstopper centerpiece. Winter salad bursting with sweet and sour flavors. Complemented by an amazing mint lime dressing, crunchy walnuts, and salty feta cheese, this salad is a crowd-pleaser and brings a taste of summer any time of year!
Thai Forest Mushroom Salad with Parsley and Mint
Thai style Forest Mushroom Salad with Parsley and Mint! This Thai-Inspired Forest Mushroom Salad is full of fresh herbs and flavorful. It's a quick and easy salad full of bright flavours perfect for a hot summer day! As a mushroom lover, this is one of my top picks 😉
Green Lentil Tabbouleh Salad
Healthy, hearty and tasty, this Green Lentil Tabbouleh Salad is a nutrient-packed recipe that makes a great lunch or side dish. It is naturally vegan, gluten free, and high in protein. Fresh parsley, mint, cucumber, tomato, and lemon juice give this salad a ton of flavor.
Persian Chopped Salad
A Persian Chopped Salad with is sweet and savory with crunchy cucumbers, red onions, tangy feta, and lots of fresh herbs is perfect with grilled meats or a lentil stew. This salad has big, bold and satisfying flavour.
Spicy Sweet Cantaloupe Mint Salad
Juicy bites of cantaloupe are dressed with a sweet and spicy dressing laced with mint. Topped with creamy, oozy burrata, this is a simple but luxurious salad.
Za’atar and Mint Butter Bean Salad (Vegan and Gluten Free)
In this 10-minute za’atar and mint butter bean salad, creamy, mild-flavored butter beans pair perfectly with savory za’atar and fresh herbs.
Appetizers
Start your meal with the subtle fresh mint flavor in these easy appetizers. Both can be made ahead and are great paired with drinks in the garden.
Traditional, Easy Marinated Zucchini Antipasti
Go Italian with this mint and parsley flavored zucchini antipasti! Perfect with a crisp glass of white wine, it's an easy and elegant appetizer or salad.
Cucumber Watermelon Feta Mint Bites
These cucumber watermelon feta mint bites are a vegetarian appetizer with cucumber, watermelon, and feta all with a mint lime Dijon dressing.
Sauce, Dip + Pesto
Lots of mint to use up? Sometimes the best way to use a lot of mint is to whip up batches of pesto, dip or sauce that can be used all week or frozen in portions to enjoy through the winter. Pesto freezes exceptionally well and is something I make loads of during the summer when herbs are plentiful. The mint salsa recipes are fantastic for easy entertaining with a big bowl of tortilla chips to scoop them up with.
Vegan Basil Mint Pesto with Pistachios
One of my family's favorite meals is pasta with this mint basil pesto. It is both vegan and gluten-free. The mint adds so much freshness and the nuts add some protein. It's a perfect pasta sauce or use it to top bruschetta or anything off the barbecue.
Mint Basil Pesto
How to Make Chermoula Sauce
Chermoula sauce is a 5-minute Marinade recipe that is one of my favorite Moroccan cuisine recipes. It’s an aromatic sauce made with fresh parsley, cilantro and mint.
Mint Chimichurri
Mint Chimichurri - a flavour packed no-cook sauce full of fresh herbs with a touch of chilli. The perfect partner for lamb!
5-minute Indian Yogurt Mint Sauce
Indian Yogurt Mint sauce is a fresh and cool chutney that is perfect to serve with poppadums and starters. it's an easy and quick recipe to make with minimal ingredients that are mostly available in kitchen pantry. It is a nut-free and gluten-free dip.
Roasted Tomato Salsa With Mint
We all know that not everyone likes cilantro. That is is why this recipe for Roasted Tomato Salsa with Mint recipe is so amazing. All the salsa flavor with a mint twist. You might never go back to cilantro!
A classic restaurant-style smooth salsa made in a blender with fire roasted canned tomatoes, charred veggies and plenty of spice. Gluten free.
Cherry Mint Salsa
This Cherry Mint Salsa is sweet and tangy - perfect for serving with chips, or atop chicken or pork chops! A healthy addition to any snack or meal.
Soup
Sweet peas and cucumber are in season at the same time as my mint plant so it makes sense that they pair well in these delicate and flavorful soups. Choose a hot soup or cold soup and enjoy the fresh flavors.
Minty Pea Soup
Minty pea soup is fresh-tasting and so simple to make! Uses fresh or frozen peas, & fresh mint. Minty pea soup is delicious served hot or chilled (I love it chilled best). It can be served as a party appetizer in cute little cups (like shooters), or by the bowlful.
Yayla Corbasi (Easy Turkish yogurt soup with mint)
This Yayla Corbasi is a creamy Turkish yogurt soup with mint butter. Try this gluten-free and vegan recipe which my kids love!
Cucumber Gazpacho with Mint
Minty Cucumber Gazpacho is so refreshing on a hot summer day. Blend the cucumber, pepper, garlic, onion and mint until smooth, and you’ll get a delicious soup!
Minted Veggies
Herb Mashed Potatoes
Elevate your mashed potatoes game with these delicious and flavorful Herb Mashed Potatoes. Made with fresh herbs like mint and parsley
Ligurian Potato and Mint Ravioli (Turle)
Ligurian potato and mint ravioli is a wonderful example of Italian Alpine cuisine. It’s easy to make and full of authentic mountain flavours.
Best Mint Main Courses
Mint is used in many cuisines from Indian to Persian, Greek and Turkish to English and more. Here are some delicious main dish recipes with the freshness of mint. Choose from vegan, shrimp, chicken, lamb or beef recipes. Mint makes an ideal garnish for other savory dishes like Thai curries and Vietnamese pho soup.
Vegan Charred Cauliflower Bowl with Harissa+ Mint Tahini Sauce
Smokey charred cauliflower is paired with Harissa Tahini Sauce in this vegan & gluten free bowl recipe! Made in just 20 minutes, this healthy bowl is perfect for lunch, dinner or meal prep!
Tandoori Shrimp with Mint Chutney
Tandoori shrimp with mint chutney will bring India to your kitchen! Make this mild seafood dish full of flavor in less than 20 minutes. Fresh mint sauce on top really makes these shrimp pop with flavor!
Mint Julep Bourbon Chicken Skewers
Perfect for the Kentucky Derby, these Mint Julep Bourbon Chicken Skewers are a deliciously easy appetizer recipe for derby parties or any time of the year!
Greek Chicken Kebab Bowl (with mint dressing)
This Greek chicken kebab bowl is quick and easy to whip up. It tastes great on its own but is perfect when paired with rice and grilled vegetables.
Greek Chicken Kebab Bowl (with mint dressing)
This Greek chicken kebab bowl is quick and easy to whip up. It tastes great on its own but is perfect when paired with rice and grilled vegetables.
Flank Steak Salad with Thai Dressing
Thai Flank Steak Salad Bowl is a simple and refreshing warm weather meal. Punchy Thai flavours of spicy chili and cooling mint make this healthy lunch or dinner super satisfying.
Thai Flank Steak Salad
Salpicón de Res: Beef and Mint Salad from Guatemala & Mexico
Fresh mint is a highlight of Salpicon, a traditional beef appetizer popular in Mexico and Guatemala. This is an easy recipe for Salpicón de Res, a shredded beef salad made with mint, radish and tomato popular in Guatemala, Mexico and Latin America.
Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce are very easy to make at home--and they look fancy! This dish is a flavorful show stopper!
Minted Lamb Meatballs in Red Wine Gravy
Minted lamb meatballs, succulent, juicy & loaded with flavour all wrapped up in a silky fully flavoured red wine gravy, proper comfort food.
Leg of Lamb with Fresh Mint Sauce
English style lamb and mint sauce recipe is a traditional and delicious Sunday supper. Mint sauce for lamb is the ideal alternative to mint jelly. If you’ve only had lamb with jelly, you must try this fresh mint sauce recipe!
Bread
While mint is not very common in breads, it does feature in this yummy Indian flatbread. Bread is also perfect to swipe into the dips above, especially the Indian classic, raita.
Pudina Roti / Indian style Mint Flatbread
pudina roti / mint leaves tortilla. plant based mint tortilla. fresh mint leaves indian flatbread. pudina chapati. whole wheat mint paratha
Re(Fresh)ing Mint Desserts
Forget the potent mint extract or essential oils, using fresh mint in these desserts gives a much more natural and subtle flavor that is truly delicious. Real mint ice cream or a mojito flavored milkshake are fun and tasty desserts and the simple mint syrup can be used in other sweets or cocktails.
Spearmint Simple Syrup
Spearmint-infused simple syrup is so easy to make. Tastes just like spearmint gum. Refreshing, clean sweet taste. Great for drinks and more.
Fresh Mint Ice Cream
A creamy refreshing summer treat that you will make over and over again: Homemade fresh mint chocolate chip ice cream!
Pure Mint Chip Ice Cream Recipe
There is nothing quite as satisfying as the cold, creamy goodness of ice cream during the sweltering days of summer. This Pure Mint Chip Ice Cream recipe is made from the fresh ingredients that make it especially appealing.
Mojitarita Milkshake
Put together a margarita, mojito, tequila, and ice cream to make this delicious Summer cocktail for adults… The Mojitarita. Cool, tasty, and a great drink you should make today.
No-Churn Mojito Ice Cream
Cool down this summer with this easy to make no-churn mojito ice cream flavoured with lime, mint and plenty of rum.
More Great Fresh Herb Recipes
I love herbs and grow tons of them in the summer, and try to preserve as much as I can for the winter. Fresh mint and other herbs add so much extra flavor to almost any sweet or savory recipe. Here are some more delicious recipe and ideas.
- Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
- Easy Lemon Dill Aioli With Garlic + How To Make It
- Thai Prawn Salad With Mango
- Traditional Lavender Milk Tea
See more Herb Recipes →
Pin It For Next Time
If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it. Also check out my FREE PRINTABLE meal planner to make menu planning and grocery shopping a breeze. And if you like this recipe, I would love it if you give it a star rating in the recipe card.
Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
