Zero-Waste Cooking: Creative Recipes from Leftovers
Food waste is a growing problem, but you can make a big impact right in your kitchen. Transforming leftovers into delicious new meals is easier than you think and great for both your wallet and the planet. Here are some creative zero-waste cooking ideas to get you started.
Bananas or berries can shine in smoothies when they are a little old to eat by themselves!
Overripe Fruit to Smoothies
Add overripe bananas, oat milk, peanut butter, a bit of honey and ice to your on-the-go blender and blend until smooth for a delicious breakfast or snack.
Vegetable Scraps to Stock
Don’t toss those carrot peels, onion skins, or celery tops. Store them in a freezer bag, and when it’s full, simmer them with water to create a flavourful vegetable stock.
Combine scraps with water, a bay leaf, and a pinch of salt, simmer for an hour, strain, and you’re done!
Day-Old Pancakes or Waffles to Toasted Treats
Instead of tossing day-old pancakes or waffles, reheat them in a sandwich grill for a crispy, warm breakfast.
Spread Nutella between two leftover pancakes, grill for a few minutes, and enjoy a gooey, crunchy treat.
Don’t throw away stale croissants, danishes, or other pastries! You can easily revive them in an air fryer to make them taste fresh and flaky again.
Past-their-prime Pastries to Fresh Again
Lightly mist the pastry with water, anin your Air Fryer at 150°C for 3-5 minutes until warm and crisp.
If your tortillas are getting dry, don’t toss them! Turn them into crispy quesadillas with your favourite fillings.
Dry Tortillas to Quesadillas
Fill a tortilla with shredded leftover chicken, cheese, and any veggies, fold in half, and grill in the sandwich press until golden brown.
Stale Bread to Breadcrumbs
That leftover baguette doesn’t have to go to waste. Turn it into crunchy croutons or breadcrumbs for future recipes.
Cube the bread, toss with olive oil, garlic powder, and your favourite herbs, and bake in your Air Fryer until golden brown.
Leftover Rice to Fried Rice
Day-old rice is perfect for making fried rice. Add your favourite vegetables, an egg, and a splash of soy sauce for a quick meal.
Dice up veggies using your food processor, then sauté with sesame oil, add the rice, crack in an egg, and stir in soy sauce and a dash of chilli flakes.
Hard cheese rinds like Parmesan add incredible depth to soups and stews. Drop one in while simmering and remove before serving.
Cheese Rinds to Flavour Soups
Blend tomatoes, onion, garlic in your food processor, then simmer with a vegetable stock and cheese rind in a pan for a rich, comforting soup.
Final Tip:
Embrace the challenge of using every part of your food. Not only will you waste less, but you’ll also discover new flavours and recipes you never expected!