Ingredient: Mint, or Na’na
Jul 19, 2011, Updated Apr 16, 2024
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Na’na (pronounced NAH-nuh), or spearmint, is an herb used in lots of savory ways in Lebanese cooking—we’ll be using it later this week in an absolutely delicious Lebanese salad. You can find mint at the farmer’s market now and in the grocery store throughout the year. Don’t worry about whether or not the mint you’re finding is spearmint–it always is. And if not, you can blame me for having said so.
Mint is easy to grow yourself—almost too easy, in that na’na grows like a weed, helping itself to as much free soil in your garden as it pleases. If you do plant the mint, there’s no hope of taming it to stay where you put it, so, like an unpredictable toddler, it’s best to cordon it off in a space you can control. The mint might pout some, but she’ll get over it and thrive. I keep mine in a terra cotta pot out back near the herb garden, with some trimmings on the windowsill. Because mint is just that lovely and fragrant.
I get a little excited whenever I’m at the middle eastern market. I don’t get to go often and so sometimes I buy stuff with no use in mind. You love rose water and especially Orange blossom water and this time I threw in mint water. I’m not seeing any recipes. Is it used just as a digestif or something similar?
Thanks! I love your balalawa I make it every year almost for Pascha. Xx
Rebecca this is lovely, thanks so much. The mint water would be delicious in salad vinaigrettes. If it is a pure distillation like flower waters then it would be good in anything that calls for mint flavoring, including kibbeh, kofta, even hummus or labneh! I’ll have to get some and try it, this is new to me.
I’m looking forward to the mint recipes. I’ve recently fallen in love with two recipes using mint in a quinoa dish and am interested to learn about more (non-sweet) uses.
You are so right Maureen, it does grow like a weed! I took 4 roots out from the mint patch at my parent’s house in Michigan and planted them in a pot out here in California and my mint is growing like crazy! So refreshing and really adds flavor to everything.
Anne, I love that you took some mint from home!! Keep it going!!
I’ve always wondered that about the spearmint/mint question – thanks so much! I love these ingredient explanations (and translations!)
Thanks Beth!