BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (2024)

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A lot of times when I am whipping up a sauce at the last minute for dinner, I’ll fall back on one of my favorite homemade BBQ sauces. However, sometimes I’m looking for something a little lighter and brighter — this homemade mint sauce is just the thing.

BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (1)

There are times of year when I have tons of mint and this is the perfect way to use it. All you have to do is combine it with the vinegar, oil, and a few spices and — voila! — it’s ready to serve.

In addition to being tasty, the sauce is good for you, too, since it uses heart-healthy olive oil. Additionally, mint is touted for helping with anything from indigestion to weight loss and is thought to be an anti-inflammatory, too.

So, the next time you’re craving a light, bright sauce for your meats, veggies, salads, or dipping, check out this easy recipe.

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What's In This Post

What is Mint Sauce?

Mint sauce is a vibrant mix of fresh mint with oil, vinegar, and a few other simple ingredients. It’s a thin sauce that’s as perfect for dipping as it is for dressing a salad or drizzling over meat or seafood.

Mint sauce originated in England and was most often paired with lamb (which remains a popular pairing). The traditional English mint sauce was served as an acidic ingredient with the lamb in order to offset both its fattiness and gamey flavor.

While most cuts of lamb are significantly less fatty and gamey than when the sauce was created, its flavor profile is still a perfect pairing for lamb. It’s also ideal for any other meat that benefits from an acidic balance against the backdrop of its fat content — steak, roast beef, and pork dishes are just a few that will work well.

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Fresh Sauce vs Mint Jelly

In the United States, sweet mint jelly became a popular condiment for lamb in the mid 1900’s when soldiers returned to the US after war. Having consumed the mint sauce with meat overseas, the flavor combination became popular stateside.

However, there are some drastic differences in both flavor and texture of this more traditional sauce and the jelly that Americans began to make.

First, this fresh mint sauce uses vinegar, oil, and garlic which together give it a zesty and savory flavor. It’s also a thin sauce, best poured or spooned over meats and vegetables.

On the other hand, mint jelly is sweet, incorporating significantly more sugar. Also, the jelly relies on pectin or gelatin to impart its gelatinous texture.

While both condiments offer the bright flavor of mint (and both incorporate some sort of acid) if you’re looking for a savory sauce, this freshly made mint sauce is what you’re after!

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Ingredients

  • Fresh mint leaves – Make sure to use all of those fresh leaves from your garden or the grocery store — they have way more flavor than any packaged product. Also, be sure that the leaves are packed tightly into your measuring cup.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – Extra virgin is generally recommended for making salad dressings.
  • Apple cider vinegar – While you can use other styles of vinegar, the combination of the sharpness of the vinegar with the sweetness of apples perfectly balances the sauce.
  • Garlic – Make sure that the garlic is finely grated or minced to avoid large chunks of it in the sauce.
  • Sugar – Just a bit of sugar helps to round out the sauce. Using regular white sugar is perfect — the granules are the ideal size to dissolve quickly when mixing.
  • Coarse kosher salt – Using just a pinch of salt that’s high quality will elevate the sauce, but if you don’t have it on hand you can use your typical table salt.
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Uses for Mint Sauce

Of course this mint sauce recipe is a great accompaniment to roast lamb, but there are plenty of other ways to use it.

  • Salads or rice bowls – Brighten up your standard salad and or rice bowl by drizzling this sauce over top or tossing your protein in it before adding to the bowl.
  • Proteins – Use this sauce before cooking as a marinade, or afterwards to finish.
  • Pita chips – Brush pita with this sauce prior to baking for flavorful pita chips.
  • Rice or pasta – Toss cooked rice or pasta with this for a super easy side dish.
  • Pasta salad – Replace your typical Italian dressing with this for an upgraded pasta salad.
  • Guacamole – Add this sauce to your avocado and other ingredients for an herbal take on guac.
  • Dipping sauce – Dip pita, freshly sliced (or ripped) tortillas, or even baguette slices in this sauce. You can also serve it alongside a cheese/charcuterie selection with the likes of goat cheese, gouda, salami, and pancetta.
  • Dip – Mix the mint sauce with dairy for a dip that will brighten up any plate of crudites. Whether it’s a light dip with sour cream or yogurt, or a heavier spread when mixed with the likes of cream cheese, it will be a hit.
  • Breakfast – Drizzling this over scrambled or fried eggs or an omelet filled with feta for a zesty start to the day.
  • Potatoes – Serve it as a fry sauce, mix it into mashed potatoes, or toss cubed potatoes in it after roasting or frying them.
  • Breakfast bagel – If you like lox with your schmear, try adding a layer of this sauce for some zippy morning flavor.
  • Soup – Adding mint sauce to soups like ham and pea will add layers of flavor.
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Variations

  • Oils – Any oil from olive oil or canola oil to grapeseed or sesame oil will work.
  • Vinegar – Change up the type of vinegar you use. Try white wine vinegar, distilled white vinegar, or even balsamic vinegar..
  • Cream – Simply add this to Greek yogurt or sour cream to taste. If you want something significantly thinner, but still cream-based you can add heavy cream to taste.
  • Onion – Try using onion powder or finely diced onions. For added color, you can try slivers of green onions or red onions.
  • Heat – For just a little heat try adding a bit of black pepper. For a lot of heat, add crushed red pepper or cayenne.
  • Lemon juice – While the mint is what makes the sauce bright, lemon always brings out even more flavor. It also naturally pairs well with mint.
  • Indian mint sauce – With just a few simple ingredients like jalapenos, cilantro, ginger, and yogurt you can transform this into a sauce perfect for dipping naan or drizzling over samosas or kabobs.

Storage & Freezing

Store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Freezing oil-based sauces is not recommended.

If serving after refrigeration, allow the sauce to come to room temperature first.

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BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (8)

Honey Garlic Sauce

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BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (9)

Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

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BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (10)

BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (11)

BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (12)

Fresh Mint Sauce Recipe

If you're looking for a light, bright sauce to use up all of that mint from your garden, this EASY Mint Sauce recipe will be perfect!

4.86 from 7 votes

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Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: mint sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Calories: 1009kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves , packed
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic , grated or minced
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Instructions

  • Combined the fresh mint, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt in a small food processor. Pulse several times until leaves are coarsely chopped.

  • Allow to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes and stir well before serving.

  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!

Nutrition

Calories: 1009kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 108g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 79g | Sodium: 592mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 956IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg

BEST Mint Sauce Recipe (Perfect Sauce for Pairing with Lamb!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you make mint sauce for lamb jamie oliver? ›

Meanwhile, make the mint sauce. Pick and finely chop the mint leaves, then place in a small bowl. Mix in the sugar, a good pinch of salt, 1 tablespoon of hot water and the vinegar. When the lamb is cooked to your liking, remove from the oven and leave to rest for 15 minutes or so.

Why is mint sauce so good with lamb? ›

This compound, called 2,3-octanedione, is formed when the lamb consumes fresh clover and ryegrass. It is stored in the lamb's fat and, according to this theory, chemically bridges the gap between the BCFAs and the branched-chain ketones, with a similar sweet, fruity aroma that complements the aroma of mint.

What meat goes with mint sauce? ›

Just lamb. While it's true that mint sauce is a traditional accompaniment to lamb, and has been for hundreds of years, lots of people also put it on chicken.

What is mint sauce made of? ›

Mint sauce is a green sauce popular in the United Kingdom, made from finely chopped spearmint leaves soaked in vinegar, and a small amount of sugar.

What's the difference between mint sauce and mint jelly? ›

Is mint jelly the same as mint sauce? Both pair well with lamb, but mint jelly is a sweet jellied condiment. Mint sauce is thinner and more acidic, similar to pesto.

What are the ingredients in Baxters mint sauce? ›

Ingredients. Water, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, White Wine Vinegar, Mint (9%), Dried Mint (5%), Colour (Copper Chlorophyllin, Curcumin), Salt, Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum), Flavouring.

How do I thicken my mint sauce? ›

I prefer a food processor over a blender as the small pieces of mint are synonymous with how the sauce should look. Rather than a homogenous green sauce. Store in an air tight container and refrigerate for a minimum of 1-2 hours. This will allow the sauce to thicken slightly.

What variety of mint is best for mint sauce? ›

Mentha spicata: Spearmint is the quintessential mint and can be found growing around the world. The leaf flavour is warm and sweet with light menthol notes. Great with potatoes and mint sauces.

Do you add vinegar to mint sauce? ›

Method
  1. Strip off the mint leaves, sprinkle with salt and chop finely.
  2. Place into a jug, add the sugar and pour over the boiling water, stir and leave to cool.
  3. Stir in the vinegar and taste.
  4. Add more water or vinegar and adjust seasoning to suit your taste.

How long does mint sauce last once opened after? ›

Store in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened refrigerate and consume within 6 weeks and by best before end date.

What to make with lots of mint? ›

There are so many ways you can use it to freshen up your cooking.
  1. 1Feta and mint dip. ...
  2. 2Creamy lime ice blocks with Mojito ice. ...
  3. 3Cucumber and mint raita. ...
  4. 4Mint and dukkah labne. ...
  5. 5Apple, spinach and mint juice. ...
  6. 6Orange mint iced tea. ...
  7. 7Peas with mint & garlic butter. ...
  8. 8White chocolate mojito cheesecakes.

What is mint glaze? ›

Middletons Garden Mint Glaze

A delicate taste of fresh mint, combined with sweeteners and acidity, plus an attractive visual herb appearance. The Juices from the meat will be drawn out by the dry glaze making your chosen meat extra tasty with a sauce like appearance.

What herbs go with lamb and mint? ›

Versatile mixed herbs

The expertly blended mix of mint, garlic and rosemary adds just the right balance of flavours to any lamb dish. We love this Lamb Souvlaki with Greek Salad and Tzatziki - it's just as delicious as the original street food, but with all the convenience of a midweek meal.

What can I eat with lamb besides mint jelly? ›

A splash of wine, a spoonful of mustard, a knob of butter, and a sprinkling of fresh herbs go a long way in making lamb feel even more special. With lemon butter sauce in the repertoire, your lamb dinner will never be lacking in flavor.

How does Gordon Ramsay make lamb? ›

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle. It comes out perfectly every time.

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