Here at Organic & Quality Foods, we love to recycle and look after the environment as much as possible. However, our world has become waste driven with many things being thrown away instead of being re-used.
This way of thinking also affects how we treat our food. In particular, food scraps. There are many parts of fruit and vegetables that we throw away which are perfectly edible. We’ve collected some common fruit and vegetable “scraps” that you can incorporate into your next meal.
Beetroot leaves
Beetroot leaves are great to use in place of spinach or kale. With nutritional qualities similar to most greens you can add them to dishes the same way you would other greens. However, it’s best not to eat beetroot leaves raw as they have a similar texture to kale.
Cauliflower and broccoli leaves
The best way to eat cauliflower leaves is to cut off the woody ends, rub them in oil (and spices if you want) and roast them until they become crispy.
Broccoli leaves are also edible, and they’re stacked with vitamin C, A and K. They have a milder flavour than the florets and can be used in smoothies, tossed through salads or roasted.
Cauliflower and broccoli stalks
Just like the rest of the cauliflower/broccoli stalks are packed with nutrients and vitamins. There’s no reason you should be wasting these as they taste the same than the rest of the vegetable- just a bit juicier. Cook the stalks any way you would the rest of the veg.
Kiwi skin
Next time you tuck into a kiwi fruit embrace the furry skin and eat the whole fruit. The skin actually contains more fibre and vitamin C than the flesh so you’ll be able to reap the benefits.
Mandarin Peel
Seeing as though it’s mandy season, this is a trick you can use straight away. Don’t be tempted to throw away mandarin peels because — just like any other citrus skin — you can reuse them. The best way to use them is by removing the white pith from the inside and then drying them out in the oven. Once they are crisp, you can use them in desserts, soups, marinades, and even turn them into a crumb in the food processor.
Banana Peel
Banana peel is used throughout the world in different dishes so it’s not as unusual as you may think. The great news is that banana peel is a great source of fibre, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12. You can easily add yellow skin bananas to smoothies or use them to make banana infused tea. However, if you want to cook with banana peels, it’s best to use green skin bananas. You’ll be able to pickle them, make a chutney out of them or even create dishes such as green banana curry.
Are you interested in getting fresh, organic produce delivered straight to your door? Organic and Quality Foods deliver farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cereals, nuts, herbs, spices, and more. Get in touch today or visit our online shop to get the best winter deals.
