Zero-Waste Cooking: Simple & Tasty Recipes Using Food Scraps #1

Did you know that 30% of edible food gets thrown away—including perfectly tasty stems, peels, and leaves?

Every year, households around the world throw away millions of tons of edible food—including stems, peels, and leaves that are still packed with so much flavor and nutrients. By learning some simple techniques, you can turn these "scraps" into delicious dishes while reducing food waste and your carbon footprint. This guide covers easy, tasty ways to repurpose common kitchen leftovers.

Why You Should Save (and Eat!) These Scraps:

• Less Waste, More Flavor → Reducing food waste saves money and carbon emissions while adding new textures/tastes to your meals.

• Nutrition Boost → Stems and peels often still contain various micro and macro nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Don’t waste them!

• Zero-Waste Cooking = Creative Cooking!

  
  

Recipes to try:

A. Crispy Broccoli Stem Fries

1. Peel the tough outer layer from stems

2. Cut into fry-shaped sticks or thin slices

3. Mix with olive oil, salt, and paprika

4. Bake at 200°C for 15-20 minutes

5. Flip halfway until golden and crispy

B. Potato Peel Chips

1. Scrub potato peels clean

2. Pat dry thoroughly

3. Mix with oil and sea salt

4. Bake at 190°C for 10-12 minutes

5. Cool completely before serving

C. Carrot Top Pesto

1. Wash 1 cup of chopped carrot greens thoroughly

2. Blend with 1/4 cup of mixed nuts, garlic, and lemon juice

3. Slowly add 1/3 cup olive oil while blending

4. Mix in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

5. Season with salt and pepper

D. Crispy Kale Stem Chips

1. Cut stems into 2-inch pieces

2. Mix with olive oil and sea salt

3. Bake at 135°C for 25 minutes

4. Sprinkle with preferred seasoning or nutritional yeast

E. Onion Skin Stock

1. Collect skins from 5 onions

2. Simmer with carrot peels for added sweetness

3. Add bay leaf and peppercorns

4. Strain after 45 minutes

5. Can be used as soup base

6. Freeze extra portions

Some final Tips

• Store scraps in freezer for future use

• Always wash produce thoroughly

• Start with small batches when trying new recipes

Try one of these simple scrap recipes today and help reduce food waste in your kitchen!