Mint Vinaigrette Recipes

FRESH MINT DRESSING

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste, and add more salt and/or pepper if necessary. Use as desired!
• This dressing will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 week.

MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine mint and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Let steep for about 10 minutes. Strain into a large bowl, pressing on the leaves to extract all the liquid. You should have about 3 tablespoons liquid after straining. Add oil, vinegar, honey and salt; whisk until well combined.

GRAPEFRUIT & FENNEL SALAD WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice from the top and bottom of the grapefruit; stand grapefruit upright on a cutting board. With a knife, cut off peel and outer membrane from grapefruit. Cut along the membrane of each segment to remove fruit. Arrange fennel, grapefruit and onion on a serving platter., Place mint, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a small food processor; cover and process until mint is finely chopped. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Drizzle over salad.

BEET CARPACCIO WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Fill a pot with 3 inches of water, insert a steamer basket, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low and place beets inside the steamer basket. Cover pot. Cook until beets are easily pierced with a knife, checking water level periodically, 35 to 50 minutes. Remove from heat and cool, about 30 minutes.
• Peel the beets; if you are using red and golden beets, peel the golden ones first so you don't end up turning them pink. Remove any remaining root stems. Thinly slice beets and arrange on a serving platter. I use a round plate and start in the center, alternating red and golden beet slices. Dot the top with goat cheese - you want to be able to see the beets but have enough cheese because it pairs so well with the beet. Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.
• Combine rice vinegar, olive oil, mint, and sugar in a small bowl. Drizzle over beets.

MANGO RED ONION SALAD WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cut the mangos in half, using the tip of your knife to cut around the large seed in the center. With the knife tip make slashes in the pulp of the fruit but not through the skin. Cut again in the other direction so that you've made hash marks in the fruit. Now turn the skin of the fruit inside out so that the fruit projects outward. With a spoon scoop out the already cut fruit into a mixing bowl.
• Peel the onion, cut in two and slice from root end to stem end into a fine julienne. Mix the mango and onion together.
• Combine the honey, lime juice, mint and soy in a small bowl. Pour this vinaigrette over the mango and onion and serve.

WATERMELON AND CANTALOUPE SALAD WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a blender, combine mint, lemon juice, simple syrup, and amaretto. Blend until smooth.
• In a large bowl, combine the watermelon and the cantaloupe. Add the vinaigrette and toss. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.
• In a saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

CHINOIS GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH CILANTRO MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients. Pour them over the lamb and let it marinate for 1 hour. Remove from the marinade and let stand until ready to cook.
• While the lamb is marinating, prepare the vinaigrette.
• Season the lamb with salt and pepper and place it on a hot grill. Grill medium rare, about 15 to 20 minutes; or cut the rack into chops and saute them in a pan over high heat for about 2 minutes on each side. (Cook the chops in several batches, if necessary, but don't crowd the pan.)
• Make an island of the sauce on each plate. Place lamb chops on center. Decorate with cilantro or mint sprigs on top and serve with stir-fried vegetable or stir-fried rice.
• To make the vinaigrette, combine all the ingredients, except the oil, and blend. Slowly add peanut oil. Season with salt and pepper and strain, if necessary, into a bowl.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Lay the eggplant slices in a single layer on 2 baking sheets and sprinkle both sides with salt. Set aside about 30 minutes, or until moisture beads on top of the eggplant.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Rinse the eggplant to remove the excess salt and pat dry. Brush the eggplant slices with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, coating both sides. Season with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the eggplant about 5 minutes per side, or until char marks form and the eggplant is very tender. Transfer to a platter as you finish each batch.
• Meanwhile, grate the zest of the lemon into a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice into the bowl. Whisk in the vinegar, shallots, chopped mint and the remaining 5 tablespoons oil. Season the vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the vinaigrette over the grilled eggplant and sprinkle with the mint leaves. Using a vegetable peeler, shave thin slices of feta cheese over the eggplant. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.

LEMON-MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk lemon juice, mustard, sugar and garlic in a small bowl until blended.
• Drizzle in oil, whisking until blended.
• Stir in mint, salt and pepper.
• Note: Can be kept in refridgerator for up to 2 days.

HONEY-MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together; you can also do this in a blender or food processor, but note that this will then puree the mint leaves.
• Use right away, or refrigerate until needed; if refrigerated, whisk again to combine before using.
• Use to dress a large salad; goes especially nice on a relatively plain salad (ie, just mixed greens and raw mushrooms is great).

GRAPEFRUIT AND MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes.