Peppermint is loaded with health benefits. If you’ve not used peppermint in your diet, here are tips for cooking with fresh peppermint quickly and easily.
Peppermint is well known for its beneficial effects on the digestive system. One of its main functions is to promote the flow of digestive juices in the stomach. It also promotes the flow of bile and has a relaxing effect on the important gut muscles. It also has a soothing effect on the lining and muscles of the colon and is helpful in treating diarrhea.
If you wish to build a healthy digestive system, you should seriously consider including peppermint in your diet on a regular basis.
Selection and Storage of Fresh Peppermint
Choose peppermint whose leaves have a healthy, rich green look. Avoid purchasing leaves with dark spots or those that are yellowing.
If you’re not cooking with fresh peppermint soon after purchase, you should refrigerate them as soon as possible. Wrap the leaves in a damp paper towel and keep them in a plastic bag that’s closed loosely. Storing it thus will allow it to remain fresh for days.
Another way to store peppermint would be to place them in a container of water with the stem down. Use a plastic bag to cover the top of the leaves loosely. Replace the water every two days and the leaves would remain fresh for about a week.
Dried Peppermint
If you have no access to fresh peppermint, then you can opt for the dried variety. Chances are, you could find dried peppermint in your local supermarket. However, a better option would be to buy it in a specialty spice store where you could find better quality dried peppermint. Go for organically grown peppermint and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place.
Dried peppermint could be used for preparation of tea, which relaxes and soothes the mind and spirit. Dried peppermint, although lacking the flavor of fresh peppermint leaves, could still be used for cooking.
Peppermint in Cooking
Peppermint could be used as garnishing or as an ingredient in cooking and in the preparation of drinks.
Drinks
Apart from peppermint tea, you could blend the juice of peppermint with juices of fruits especially of the tropical variety. On a hot day, you could make peppermint ice cubes by placing peppermint leaves in an ice cube tray and leaving them to freeze. Enjoy your favorite fruit juice with these ice cubes.
Cooking
Here are some quick ideas for using peppermint in your cooking.
Would you like to enhance the flavor and the aroma of your cooked vegetables? Throw in a few peppermint leaves a few minutes before you’re done with your cooking. Remove them before you serve the vegetables.
Preparing sauce for a red meat dish like roasted lamb? Chop peppermint leaves finely and add them to the sauce.
When boiling potatoes, peas and green beans, throw in a generous amount of peppermint leaves and enjoy the aroma.
Use peppermint leaves for marinating. Grind them finely and marinate your meat with peppermint paste and your other favorite marinating ingredients.
Flavor your cakes and biscuits with peppermint leaves.
Add peppermint leaves to cold and hot vegetable soups.
Don’t forget peppermint for your salads, too.
References
[https://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_peppermint.htm - health benefits of fresh peppermint](https://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_peppermint.htm - health benefits of fresh peppermint)
