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    5 Best Mint Substitutes That Are Easily Available

    We all like recipes that include mint, whether it is a drink, main dish, or dessert. Mint can spice up anything we put it in. But sometimes, we might need mint substitutes when it is unavailable.

    Did you know that you can replace fresh mint with dried mint? Not only this, but dried mint can also be used in place of other fresh herbs common in our daily routines, like basil, parsley, coriander, and peppermint extract.

    This post will cover the best five mint substitutes which will give you a similar taste. Keep reading to find out which will suit your recipe and align with your liking. 

    Let’s get started!

    What is Mint?

    Mint is a green-colored leaf herb. It’s a plant species available around the globe. The taste delivers in every food or drinks you make is incredibly amazing. 

    You can cook them both fresh or dried. Let’s be honest, dried mint has a more intense flavor than fresh mint.

    Although, both kinds of mint work perfectly in any recipe you make. Have a look at some of the amazing mouth-watering recipes for mint:

    • Mojito 
    • Mint tea
    • Mint soup
    • Mint syrup
    • Mint Margarita 
    • Salad with mint
    • Fresh mint ice cream
    • Mint greek yogurt sauce

    Health Benefits of Mint

    Adding mint to your diet can do wonders for your health by delivering a superior taste of freshness. There are some important benefits of mint that you should know. 

    1. It helps with digestion problems 
    2. Improves cold symptoms like flu
    3. Decreases breastfeed pain
    4. It helps improve brain functioning 

    Nutrients in Mint

    Mint is also rich in nutrients. It contains:

    • Manganese
    • Vitamin A
    • Calories
    • Folate
    • Fiber 

    Substitutes for Mint

    When it comes to replacing mint, you can think of many options because various herbs will enhance your cooking: spicy dishes, desserts, or beverages. 

    Go through each substitute to choose the right one for your recipe!  

    1. Dried Mint 

    Dried mint

    Dried mint is one of the best mint substitutes if you have them available. It is affordable and easy to find around the globe. 

    When we run out of the herb, we often think about its dried version first. 

    It is said that dried mints have a more intense flavor than fresh mint. You should know that if you want to use a mint leaf, then this dried mint will not work. So, you might need to exclude any salads when using this substitute.

    However, in other recipes, add 1 teaspoon of dried mint for 1 tablespoon of fresh mint. 

    2. Basil

    Basil

    Basil is the perfect fresh mint substitute, especially when making something savory or peppery. If you want to replace mint in such dishes, basil is the greatest option. 

    It delivers a hot fiery flavor, whereas mint has a tangy and sweet taste. The similarity between these two herbs is that they are both refreshing when you buy them. So you do not need to worry about the taste or texture of your dish.

    Basil will work greatly in peppery recipes like meat dishes, pasta, and casseroles, and you can try it in a delicious recipe of garlic basil shrimp with zucchini noodles

    You can add basil to smoothies or drinks like mojitos and margaritas. It will work in any beverage. 

    Also, there is no need to adjust the quantity, and you can add the same amount of basil for mint. It will be a simple 1:1 replacement. 

    3. Parsley

    Parsley

    Parsley is a common mint replacement that is easy to find and available worldwide. When making soups, stews, or other main courses, parsley is the best choice.

    The sweet and tangy taste it delivers makes your dish refreshing and pleasing.

    Moreover, it will balance the taste of each ingredient in your word, just like the mint, grassy and refreshing. 

    You can use parsley to garnish your dish or any smoothie or salad. 

    Sometimes people use mint and parsley in salads; you can try this combination in a chicken kale salad

    4. Coriander

    Coriander

    Call it coriander or cilantro, the most common herb we have used in cooking, but we never thought about replacing coriander with mint, right?

    When cooking something that calls for mint, you can add coriander, but if only you already like its taste because it is not as strong as mint. 

    You might need to add more coriander to your recipe when replacing it with mint.

    5. Peppermint Extract 

    peppermint extract

    Peppermint extract can also work great as one of the mint substitutes. It is sweet and minty, so you can not add it to savory dishes, but it is best if you use peppermint extract for sweet dishes.

    If you are making a delicious mint chocolate chip ice cream and need mint, feel free to add peppermint extract because it is powerful in taste and gives a refreshing flavor.

    You can also add a few drops to mojitos or high-protein smoothie because it contains a minty flavor that will work perfectly in your drinks.

    Add 4 drops of peppermint extract for 1 tablespoon of chopped mint leaves. You can add it to recipes like ice cream, pudding, and other baking goods.

    If you are looking for a substitute for savory dishes, this might not be a good option for your recipe; you can check out other given alternatives above.

    Wrapping Up

    Mint is great for spicy and sweet dishes and drinks, including mojitos, smoothies, and many more. When you think of replacing it with other herbs, try dried mint or peppermint extract first if you want a natural mint flavor.

    You can try basil, parsley, or coriander for recipes such as spicy or savory dishes with fresh mint leaves. 

    It’s good to be a creative chef; you can find new tastes in the same dishes by using the alternatives, and they can become your favorite too. So, get up and start cooking!

    article by

    Areena

    Areena is a talented writer at The Foodnom, where she enthralls readers with her captivating food-related content.

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