People are being urged not to forget the seasonal vegetables hiding in their fridges this Christmas season.
Locally-produced root vegetables like potatoes, parsnips and carrots are currently at their most nutritious, having only recently been harvested, yet a recent survey found that vegetables are thrown out by a whopping 41 per cent of Irish households.
With the average family wasting up to €700 on uneaten food each year, the global social impact company Too Good To Go is urging households to “rescue their roots”.
“November is stew and soup season, and it’s also one of the times we see the most perfectly good Irish vegetables going to waste,” said Machaela O’Leary, Sales Manager at Too Good To Go Ireland.
"Turning leftover carrots, spuds, and parsnips into a hearty stew not only saves you money, it helps protect the planet and gives you the vitamin boost you need to power through the party season.”
To help households save money and fight against food waste, Too Good To Go has shared simple tips for using up leftover fruits and vegetables.
To make a delicious veg soup, just sauté an onion and garlic, add 500g of any chopped vegetables, simmer in one litre of stock until tender, and then blend until smooth and enjoy.
The everything frittata whisk up six eggs and pour them over any leftover cooked or raw vegetables in a pan—think stray mushrooms, that half an onion, or leftover roasted potatoes. Cook on the hob for a few minutes until the edges are set, then finish under the grill for a delicious, zero-waste meal in minutes.
To make zero-waste veg stock, keep a bag in the freezer for carrot, parsnip, and onion peelings. Once full, cover with water, add herbs, and simmer for an hour for a delicious, free vegetable stock perfect for soups and stews.
To create root veg crisps, use a peeler to turn leftover parsnips and carrots into thin ribbons. Toss with a little oil and salt, and roast in a hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes until golden and crispy, don’t forget to let them cool when you take them out.
Freezing your fruit, got bananas going brown or berries looking a bit soft? Chop them up and freeze them in a reusable bag or container. They are perfect for blending straight from the freezer into a smoothie or for stirring into hot porridge.
