Mint Concentrate

#MintConcentrate : I have developed a nice #mint [ #pudhina ] bed in a corner of my garden where there is shadow and also a water tap. A few months back plucked all the leaves and dried in the shadow. I have preserved these dried mint in a container for future use. Now again it has grown well and ready for one more harvest. I am using these fresh aromatic leaves in my recipes wherever possible. Even then lots of leaves are there. I do not want to waste them. So this time I prepared a concentrate which can be chilled and used in the preparation of drinks.

Ingredients :
1 cup                                     Mint leaves
2 1/2 cups                              Water
small piece                              Ginger smashed [ optional ]

Method :

Wash mint leaves two or three times thoroughly with water and keep on a cutting board.

Boil water in a vessel.
When water starts boiling pound the leaves slightly with the back of a ladle and add.
If ginger is taken add that also.

Reduce the flame and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

Turn off the stove and let it stand until it reaches room temperature.
Then filter using a colander or tea filter.
Store in a bottle after the concentrate completely cooled down.

Store in refrigerator.

Mint concentrate can be used in juice preparation instead of plain water.
It can be filled in ice trays to make ice cubes.
A little quantity of mint concentrate can be mixed with drinking water in the ratio of 1 : 6.
It can also be mixed with curd to make buttermilk.




Some other Items to preserve

Dried Curry Leaf

Dried Rose Petal

Dried Mint [ Preserving Pudhina ]

Nellikkai mittai - Amla Candy

Vengaya vadavam [ Dried shallots ]

For other Juice, Soups and Porridge varieties

Refreshments

Preserving Pudina

Last year when I went to market bought a bunch of Pudina [ mint ] keerai. After plucking the leaves planted those stems in my backyard. When I planted it was raining so immediately started growing well. After monsoon I replanted them near a tap so that it receives water always. This year during monsoon they spread in all direction and formed a large bed of Pudina. I wanted to preserve them for future use. So I dried these leaves and preserved.
I am sharing with you all how I dried Pudina leaves.

Pluck the leaves.
Wash the leaves thoroughly two or three times.
Transfer into a colander to drain water.

Spread a clean kitchen towel on a big plate or on the floor.
Now spread the washed leaves on the towel.

The excess water will be absorbed by the towel.
Keep stirring the leaves at regular intervals with hands to dry out.
Then transfer the leaves in two or three plates.

Keep it open in an airy place inside the house to dry.
Slowly the leaves started drying and in the process the color also changes.

After a day or two leaves completely lose water and become brittle.
Then keep in the Hot Sun for half an hour.
Now it can be stored in an airtight clean dry container.

The dried leaves are as good as fresh one and still retain its aroma!

It can be used in the preparation of briyani, pulav, chutney, chappathy.... etc.,....





Some other Items to preserve

Dried Curry Leaf

Mint Concentrate

Dried Rose Petal [ Preserving Pudhina ]

Nellikkai mittai - Amla Candy

Vengaya vadavam [ Dried shallots ]