Mint sauce facts for kids
Mint sauce is a tasty green sauce often used in British and Irish cooking. It's made from tiny pieces of spearmint leaves mixed with vinegar and a little bit of sugar. Sometimes, a squeeze of lime juice is added too. The sauce is usually thick and creamy.
People often serve mint sauce with roast lamb or other roasted meats. In some places, it's even eaten with mushy peas. You can usually buy mint sauce already made in food shops, especially in Britain. There's also mint jelly, which is thicker and sweeter than the sauce. It's another popular choice for lamb dishes and is also usually bought ready-made.
Mint sauce isn't just for meats! You can use it in recipes when you don't have fresh mint. Some people even enjoy it spread on toast or bread.
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Different Kinds of Mint Sauces
Mint Chutney
In India, there's a similar sauce called mint chutney. This sauce is served with Indian snacks and breakfast foods like Idly and Dhokla. Mint chutney is made by grinding fresh mint leaves with other ingredients. These can include cilantro, green chili peppers, and either lemon juice (in northern India) or tamarind (in southern India). Salt, fried bengal gram, and sometimes curd (a type of yogurt) are also added.
Other Mint Sauces
Some mint sauces can also include fruits, like raspberries, to give them a different flavor. In Tunisia, people make a similar sauce using dried mint. This sauce can be served with grilled meat called méchoui, or with a dish called mulukhiyah. It can also be used as a base for a vinaigrette salad dressing. Both dried and fresh mint are important ingredients in many Tunisian dishes.
History of Green Sauces
Long ago, during the Middle Ages in Europe, it was common to find green sauces made from herbs. Mint was used more often in French and Italian cooking during that time than in English dishes. However, as Europe moved into the Modern Era, these types of herb-based sauces became less common and mostly disappeared.
Images for kids
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Yogurt-mint sauce
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Panna cotta mint sauce
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Stuffed grape leaves with yogurt mint sauce
See also
In Spanish: Salsa de menta para niños
