12 Identical Substitute For Mint Leaves

Substitute for mint leaves might seem hard to find, but you actually have plenty of options. Basil, parsley, marjoram, and many other herbs! They can all help you achieve that fresh, minty flavor for both sweet and savory dishes.

Mint (originally mentha)is a popular aromatic herb that comes in many varieties and can be used as a spice in many recipes, in dried form as a herbal tea, or as an ingredient in your favorite cocktail! Although this plant is available practically everywhere, you may run out of it, and that’s when you need to know about some of the best mint substitutes! Keep reading!

Substitute For Mint Leaves

Most of our favorite mint substitutes are plants that belong to the mint family. It makes no wonder that they are such great mint alternatives.

1. Basil

The most common substitute for mint, both because of its similar taste and because of its availability. Basil has a minty, slightly sweet, and peppery aroma. However, you will need to use more basil than when you would use mint for the same effect – 2 teaspoons of basil will replace 1 teaspoon of mint.

2. Marjoram

This herb has a hint of citrus and pine flavor, and it is similar to oregano. When using it instead of mint, keep in mind that it has a much stronger flavor, so you need to be careful not to add too much.

3. Parsley

If you use mint in soups and stews, parsley is a perfect substitute. Parsley has a rich scent and enhances all the other flavors in the dish.

4. Rosemary

This plant has a rich and strong flavor, so it might not be the best mint substitute when it comes to sweet dishes, but in soups and stews, it is a perfect mint substitute.

5. Tarragon

Not a common choice in most cuisines, tarragon is a good mint substitute which is also a well-known medicinal plant. It has an incredible aroma, and it is best used in soups and meat dishes.

6. Oregano

One of the most popular herbal spices, oregano can be used both fresh and dried, and just a pinch is enough to give you a rich flavor.

7. Peppermint extract

When trying to replace mint in dessert recipes, peppermint extract is probably the best choice. It has a minty and spicy flavor. You can find a natural or artificial peppermint extract.

8. Coriander

It doesn’t have a strong flavor as mint does, but it is still a great mint substitute for savory dishes. Similar to parsley, it enhances all the other flavors of the dish, and although you can use both dry and fresh coriander, fresh coriander is a lot tastier.

9. Herbal mint tea

Obviously, herbal mint tea is a great substitute for mint leaves. If you don’t have any fresh or dried mint leaves, grab your mint tea bags and take as much dried mint as needed. Make sure that you are using plain mint tea.

10. Lemon extract

Although it won’t give you any of that minty flavor, it will still add some freshness to the dish. You can also use lemon juice, dry lemon, or organic lemon peel.

11. Thyme

This plant has a sharp, almost minty flavor. Its aroma is earthy, with a hint of floral and peppery flavors. It should be used in smaller quantities than mint. Use it in savory dishes.

12. Lavender

Not only does this plant smell great, but it can also serve as a mint substitute because of its flavor, that’s floral with hints of mint and rosemary.

Substitute For Mint Leaves In Mojito

Mojito wouldn’t be as delicious without mint, but what to do if you’re out of mint? The best mint substitutes, in this case, are peppermint extract, peppermint spirits, peppermint oil, or any other syrup or drink that has a minty flavor.

Substitute For Mint Leaves In Salad

Oregano, rosemary, and parsley are the best substitutes for a mint when making a salad. They are great in combination with vegetables because they add freshness to any salad without overpowering it.

Substitute For Mint Leaves In Pani Puri

Pani puri is a snack made of crispy-fried puffed ball that is filled with potato, chickpeas, onions, spices, and flavored water (Pani). Pani is made of fresh mint leaves and other spices. Instead of mint leaves, you can use tamarind paste, fresh coriander leaves, and ginger roots.

Substitute For Dried Mint Leaves

The most obvi0ous choice is herbal mint tea because it is practically the same thing. However, you can use dried basil leaves, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried lavender, and other dried aromatic herbs.

Basil Substitute For Mint Leaves

Basil has a fresh aroma similar to the mint flavor, so it makes no wonder that chopped fresh basil leaves are a great substitute for mint leaves.

Oregano Substitute For Mint Leaves

Both mint and oregano plants belong to the mint family, and their leaves have a similar, earthy flavor. That’s why you can use oregano to replace mint and vice versa.

Is There A Substitute For Mint Leaves

As seen in previous paragraphs, there are plenty of substitutes for mint leaves. However, not every mint substitute is a good choice for both sweet and savory dishes that contain mint. Some mint substitutes are only good for savory dishes, for example, thyme, coriander, and oregano, while other mint substitutes are better for sweet dishes, such as peppermint extract and lemon juice, and lavender.

Cooking Substitute For Fresh Mint Leaves

Fresh, chopped mint leaves can give a nice peppery aroma to any stew and soup, but you can substitute them with fresh basil, parsley, coriander, oregano, and rosemary leaves.

Substitute Mint Leaves For Peppermint

Peppermint leaves have a similar flavor as mint leaves, but their flavor is much stronger. As a matter of fact, peppermint leaves have the strongest aroma among the plants in the mint family. That means they can be used as a substitute for mint leaves, but with caution when it comes to the used quantity.

Summary

Now you know how to choose the best substitute for mint leaves. Some of the best mint substitutes are plants that belong to the mint family, such as basil, oregano, and rosemary, but you can also use other substitutes, such as parsley, coriander, and even lemon juice or peppermint extract.