Mint (spearmint)

نعناع / na'nā'; spearmint

Flavor and role: A herb with a cool, refreshing aroma; for cooking, spearmint, milder than peppermint, is mostly used.
Typical dishes and uses: Tabbouleh, Moroccan mint tea, mojito, Vietnamese wraps, biryani, tzatziki. In this book: tabbouleh, chicken biryani and souvlaki sauce.
Substitutes: 1 tbsp fresh mint = 1 tsp dried mint. In salads, basil or perilla leaves (or shiso) can be mixed in.
Storage: Wrapped in a damp kitchen towel in a zip bag in the fridge, it keeps 5-7 days.
Main countries: Lebanon · Morocco · Vietnam
Used in this book: Chicken Biryani Tabbouleh Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Sizzling Crêpes)Bún Bò Huế (Spicy Hue Beef Noodle Soup)Bún Chả (Hanoi Grilled Pork with Rice Noodles)Bún Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Noodle Bowl)Chapli Kebab Falafel Fattoush Gemista (Greek Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers)Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Pork)Haleem Larb Gai (Thai Minced Chicken Salad)Manakish with Za'atar Num Banh Chok Aussie Roast Lamb Seekh Kebab Aloo Keema Puff Triangles with Mint Yogurt Dip Dhaba-Style Aloo Paratha with Homemade White Butter and Mint Raita Aloo Paratha Egg Roll with Masala Egg and Mint Mayo Charcoal Anticuchos with Ají Amarillo Cream Baba ganoush eggplant boats Bánh Mì Rice Bowl Crispy Mekong-Style Bánh Xèo with Mung Beans and Coconut Cream Crispy Bánh Xèo Shrimp Salad Bowl Lok Lak Crispy Rice Salad with Lime-Pepper Dressing Bún Bò Huế Trộn (Spicy Lemongrass Beef Dry Noodles)Charcoal Bún Chả with Homemade Caramel and Crispy Shallots Bún Chả Burger with Pickled Carrot and Sriracha Mayo Crispy Vermicelli Cake with Bún Chả Meatballs Charcoal Bún Thịt Nướng with Caramel Pork and Crispy Shallots Lemongrass Pork Belly Ssam with Gochujang Nước Chấm (Vietnamese × Korean)Cheesy Keema Mini Bunny Rolls Chicken Tikka Burrito with Mint Raita Butter Chicken Cheese Toast Za'atar, Feta and Olive Oil Damper (Australian × Lebanese)Chana Masala Cheese Toastie Peshawari Hand-Chopped Chapli Kebab Chapli Kebab Cheeseburger with Mint Mayo Chapli Kebab Flatbread Pizza with Mint Yogurt Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani Chicken Biryani Burrito Biryani Chicken Rice Bowl Chicken Karahi Tacos Karahi Chicken Cheese Naan Melt Chicken Tikka Masala Quesadillas Vesuvio Smashed Potato Bowl with Garlic-Wine Chicken and Minty Pea Smash Mini Bhatura Chole Sliders with Mint-Onion Slaw Çılbır Jammy Egg Bulgur Bowl with Crispy Chickpeas Baked Falafel Crunch Bowl Chana Chaat Fatteh with Tamarind and Mint Yogurt (Levantine × Indian)Restaurant-style fattoush with za'atar pita crisps and pomegranate Mexican-style fattoush with tortilla crisps and avocado Labneh fattoush toast Pomegranate-Walnut Glazed Chicken Wings Crisp-Crusted Fish Burger with Minty Pea Smash Whipped Ful & Tahini Toast with Za'atar Gado-Gado Rice Paper Rolls Charcoal Turmeric Gai Yang with Charred-Shallot Jaew Gai Yang Pita with Jaew Yogurt (Thai × Greek)Garlic Naan Pull-Apart Bread Gemista with Pine Nuts, Currants and Feta (plus Courgette Boats)Whole-Feta Gemista Rice Tray Bake Coconut-Poached Pork and Tiger Prawn Summer Rolls Crispy Rice Paper Shrimp Dumplings Horiatiki-fattoush with za'atar feta Sheet-Pan Gyros Nachos with Pita Chips and Whipped Feta Shahi Haleem with Bone-In Shank and Ghee Baghar Chicken Haleem Rice Bowl Saffron Joojeh Chicken Caesar Salad with Sumac Pita Croutons Masala Kartoffelpuffer with Mint Raita (German x Indian)Kefta Tagine Crispy Rice Bowl with Lemon Yogurt Crispy Kibbeh Muffin Cups with Garlic Yogurt and Pomegranate Khichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee Tadka Hand-Chopped Larb Gai with Lemongrass Khao Khua and Crispy Chicken Skin Larb Gai Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Sriracha Cream Crispy Larb Gai Rice Paper Dumplings with Lime-Chilli Dip Crispy Madrouba Patties with Dried-Lime Yogurt Dip Cold-Fermented Manakish with Homemade Za'atar and Labneh Smoky Mandi Chicken Rice Bowl Mango Coconut Dessert Maki Crispy Coconut Sticky Rice Cakes with Mango-Lime Salsa Crispy Dosa Chaat Bowl Kofta Meatloaf with Pomegranate Glaze and Tahini Yogurt (Levantine × American)Tandoori Chicken Momo with Mint Yoghurt Roasted Vegetable Couscous Bowl with Whipped Feta Crispy Moussaka Bowl Smoky Grilled-Fish Num Banh Chok Kroeung Fish Tacos with Coconut-Lime Crema (Cambodian × Mexican)Kroeung Fish Cakes with Coconut Curry Dip and Herb Wraps Charcoal-Smoked Paneer Tikka with Mint Chutney Paneer Tikka Tacos with Mango Salsa (Indian × Mexican)Paneer Tikka Loaded Fries with Mint Chutney Mayo Coconut Panna Cotta with Lime Mango Pav Bhaji Cheese Quesadillas Lemon Curd Berry Pavlova Charcoal-Smoked Spatchcock Pollo a la Brasa with Twice-Cooked Fries Rajma Chawal Crispy Tikki with Mint Yogurt Roast Lamb, Pumpkin and Feta Café Bowl Tandoori-Spiced Roast Turkey Thighs with Cranberry-Mint Chutney (Indian × American)Rogan Josh Keema Loaded Fries Masala Rösti with Mint-Yoghurt Chutney Crispy Saleeg Rice Cakes with Lemon-Garlic Yogurt Kroeung Pork and Roasted Pumpkin Rice Bowl with Toasted Rice Crunch Halwai-Style Punjabi Samosas with Two Chutneys Samosa Toastie Charcoal Lamb Seekh Kebab with Fresh Mint Chutney Baked Seekh Kebab Scotch Eggs with Mint Yogurt Shan Tomato Chicken Lettuce Cups with Crispy Rice Noodles Tandoori Chicken Shashlik with Mint Chutney (Uzbek × North Indian)Shish Tawook Salad with Toum-Caesar Dressing and Pita Crisps Som Tam Summer Rolls Charcoal Lamb Leg Sosaties with Apricot Glaze and Mint Yogurt Masala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint Raita Spiral Spanakopita with Three Cheeses Saag Feta Phyllo Samosas Tabbouleh with Tomato-Water Dressing and Pomegranate Crispy Tabbouleh Fritters with Garlic Yogurt Saffron Crispy Rice Salad with Herbs, Feta and Walnuts Charcoal-Smoked Tandoori Chicken with Mint Chutney Tandoori Chicken Tray Pizza with Mint Raita Drizzle Cinnamon-Sugar Mini Yorkies with Berries and Cream Zaalouk Puff Pastry Tart with Feta and Honey

Updated 2026-10-10