Mint: The new basil?

Call me crazy, but sprigs of fresh basil seem to be popping up in my food no matter where I turn. In my omelets, in my salads -- I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Starbucks starts marketing the "Pesto Frappuccino®."

No matter what dining establishment you may find yourself in, you're sure to find a pasta dish with fresh pesto sauce, a sandwich with Roma tomatoes and pesto "aioli," or a mixed green salad drizzled with creamy pesto dressing. All delicious for sure. Don't get me wrong; I love basil fresh and in all its forms. I mean, what's the point of eating fresh mozzarella caprese if you don't have basil chiffonade beautifully sprinkled on top? I'll tell you: there is no point. However, I feel that the overuse and trendiness of this leafy herb has frankly made it quite boring. Not to mention that basil has been completely overshadowing its less popular but equally versatile and delicious cousin, mint. Today, I say no longer!

I admit it. I ignored mint for a very long time. The overpowering smell of the fresh basil sitting next to it in the grocery store attracted me like a moth to a flame. I'm sure the same happens to you, but resist the temptation, I say, and pick up a bunch of fresh mint! Much like basil, mint is very culturally diverse. It works perfectly in Greek and Mediterranean cooking, such as in a garlic and mint yogurt sauce for chicken and/or lamb kabobs or spread on Greek burgers. It's also a fresh addition to Asian cuisine like Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Try a mint chiffonade added to a seafood salad with an Asian style dressing.

I recently had an amazing fruit salad (courtesy of my dear friend Toni) that took your mama's bowl of mixed melon chunks and purple grapes to a whole new level. She tossed peaches, grapes and blackberries together with a sweet mint dressing. Hello! You can find the recipe here. And how beautiful does a pitcher of raspberry lemonade look with fresh green mint leaf circling around inside. You can't do that with basil! Well, I mean you can but....no, no you can't. Because that would be gross.


Garlic and Mint Yogurt Sauce

(Remember, I really don't measure, so...good luck!)

Ingredients:

2 parts plain yogurt (One individual container will be fine. I prefer the fat free version. The consistency of the fat free version seems to work better. Also, it means you can eat more dessert later.)

Roughly 1 part sour cream to yogurt (if I had to guess, 1/2 cup more or less)

2 cloves fresh garlic (more or less to taste) minced

Zest of one lemon

About half the juice of that lemon

Handful of fresh, chopped mint leaves (I found that dried mint actually does work with this recipe but the fresh tastes, well, fresher)

Handful of fresh, chopped parsley (flat leaf)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together and put in the refrigerator for a couple hours before serving with kabobs or Greek burgers and...that's it. Enjoy!