Fresh mint for raita, chutney and tea

What to make with fresh mint

Stir chopped mint into yoghurt with a pinch of salt and roasted cumin for a quick raita. Blend it with coriander, green chilli and lemon for green chutney. Layer whole leaves into a biryani with the fried onions, or add a handful to a lamb kebab mix. And for the simplest thing of all, pour boiling water over a few sprigs for fresh mint tea after a big meal.

Bunches of mint are out daily, right beside the coriander.

Mint with lamb

Mint and lamb go together in kitchens from Glasgow to Kabul. A spoon of mint sauce with a roast leg of lamb, mint and yoghurt with lamb chops, or fresh mint in a lamb mince kofta.

Keeping mint fresh

Treat it like coriander: trim the stalks, stand it in a glass of water in the fridge and cover it loosely with a bag. It keeps for about a week. Mint bruises easily, so tear or chop it just before using.

What to make

• Chicken biryani Marinated chicken on the bone layered with saffron basmati, fried onions and mint. The one-pot party dish everyone asks for. 1 hr 45 minHot
• Lamb biryani Spiced lamb layered with part-cooked basmati, saffron, fried onions and mint, then steamed until every grain is fragrant. 2 hr 30 minHot
• Mantu Steamed Afghan dumplings filled with spiced mince and onion, topped with garlic yoghurt, a tomato and split pea sauce, and dried mint. 1 hr 40 minWarm
• Haleem Beef slow-cooked with wheat, barley and lentils, then beaten into a thick, savoury porridge and topped with crisp onions, ginger and lemon. 4 hr 30 minWarm
• Shami kebab Soft, crisp-edged patties of beef and chana dal cooked with whole spices, then ground and fried. The make-ahead favourite for iftar. 1 hr 45 minWarm
• Chicken pakora Glasgow's favourite starter: spiced chicken in a crisp gram flour batter, with a sweet chilli or spicy yoghurt dip on the side. 40 minWarm

Quick raita

Fresh mint, every day in Shawlands. Find us in Shawlands.