Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce
Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce
Sweet, salty, and refreshing Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce is a perfect pairing for spicy or savory dishes. Serve it drizzled over Sweetly Spiced Afghan Stewed Eggplant "Borani Banjan," as a dip for warm pita bread, or spooned over roasted veggies!
Happy & Healthy Cooking,
Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills
- chop :
to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.
- measure :
to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).
- whisk :
to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.
Equipment Checklist
- Medium bowl
- Cutting board
- Kid-safe knife
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
Ingredients
Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce
- 1 cucumber
- 1 small handful fresh mint leaves (roughly 6 leaves)
- 3/4 C plain yogurt **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free plain yogurt)**
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp salt
Food Allergen Substitutions
Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce
- Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free plain yogurt.
Instructions
Whipped Yogurt Mint Sauce
chop + measure
As finely as possible, chop 1 cucumber and 1 small handful of mint leaves. Scrape those into a medium bowl. Then, measure 3/4 cup yogurt, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and add them to the bowl with the cucumber and mint.
whisk + serve
Whisk the mixture until well combined. The more you whisk, the more green the sauce will become! Try serving this sauce drizzled over Sweetly Spiced Afghan Stewed Eggplant "Borani Banjan."
Hi! I'm Mint!
"I'm a green herb with a sweet, cool taste and pleasant aroma. You may have tasted me in gum and toothpaste, but my favorite is mint chocolate chip ice cream!"
History & Etymology
- With its fresh scent hard to miss, mint was undoubtedly one of the earliest herbs discovered. It has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1,000 BCE and has been part of Chinese medicine even longer.
- Ancient Romans and Greeks used mint to flavor cordials and fruit compotes, as well as for baths and perfumes.
- Mexicans call mint "yerba buena" or "good herb."
- The United States produces over 70 percent of the world's peppermint and spearmint.
- The word "mint" comes from the Old English "minte," from German "minze," from the Greek "minthē."
Anatomy
- The mint plant is from the Mentha genus. It is an aromatic perennial herb. The plants can grow 4 to 48 inches tall and have runners below and above ground that can spread.
- There are 18 to 24 species of mint currently recognized. Other mints are natural hybrids and cultivated hybrids. Some herbs with "mint" names, like cat mint (catnip), are not part of the Mentha genus.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is also known as common garden mint. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a natural hybrid cross between spearmint and watermint (Mentha aquatica).
How to Pick, Buy, & Use
- Mint is easy to grow at home or can be purchased at the grocery store. You can keep a bunch of fresh mint in a glass of water for up to two days.
- Mint is harvested for its leaves, fresh or dried, for many culinary uses to add a cool, refreshing flavor. Foods that mint is added to include beverages, candies, ice cream, jellies, meat dishes, sauces, syrups, and teas.
- Mint essential oil and menthol are added as flavoring to breath fresheners, candy, chocolate, drinks, gums, and toothpaste. It can also be used for aromatherapy.
- Mint pairs well with these foods: asparagus, beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and yogurt. You can combine mint with these herbs and spices: basil, clove, cumin, dill, ginger, oregano, parsley, and thyme.
Nutrition
- Although mint has some health benefits, it is best to eat it in moderation.
- Mint has small amounts of vitamins A and C, along with the minerals calcium and iron.
- Mint may aid in digestion, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it may aggravate symptoms.
THYME for a Laugh
What is a mint’s favorite sport?
Bad-mint-on!
That's Berry Funny
Why does milk turn into yogurt when you take it to a museum?
Because it becomes cultured!
The Yolk's On You
What is the only food that you are allowed to play with?
Yo-Yo Gurt!
That's Berry Funny
What did the mint say to the other mint?
We're mint to be together!
