Reduce Food Waste: How to Transform Food Scraps
Reduce food waste with chef Kayla Pfeiffer’s innovative approach to sustainability in the heart of Naples, Florida. As a Food Network “Chopped” winner and a James Beard Awards semifinalist, Pfeiffer uses food scraps in creative ways at Bicyclette Cook shop—a restaurant where nothing goes to waste.
According to Pfeiffer, “It started out of necessity,” “With rising food costs, I had to rethink ingredients that most people throw away.”
Her zero-waste cooking method is now improving flavors while also conserving food. Peels, stems, and leftovers are transformed into delectable culinary gems by her techniques of roasting, blanching, pickling, and creating pestos.
How to Utilize Food Scraps to Their Full Potential
Chef Pfeiffer offers easy ways to rethink food waste:
1. Roasting to Get a Richer Taste
Roasting vegetable stems and peels produces deep, caramelized tastes. Make tasty sauces and broths with them.
2. Blanching for Bitterness Elimination
Blanching turnip greens or radish tops might lessen their harshness. A brief dip in ice water after boiling water produces a softer taste.
3. Using leftover vegetable peels for fermentation to add depth? Prepare your own pickles or kimchi to add sour, umami-rich flavors to salads and sandwiches.
4. Using Greens to Make Pesto
For a homemade pesto that tastes fantastic on pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip, carrot tops or beet greens make excellent alternatives to basil.
Delicious Zero-Waste Recipes
Want to try eco-friendly cooking at home? Pfeiffer shares two easy zero-waste recipes:
Potato Skin Broth
Instead of tossing potato peels, use them to make a nutrient-rich broth that adds depth to soups and stews.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups potato skins
- 3 cups water
- 3 tbsp cheese rind
- 2 tbsp salt
Directions:
- Simmer all ingredients for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Strain and finish with a splash of lemon juice.
- Burrata Water Vinaigrette
Don’t throw away the liquid from burrata cheese! It can be used to create a flavorful vinaigrette or a brine for proteins.
Ingredients:
- 5 ripe tomatoes
- ½ cup burrata water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 2 tsp salt
- ¼ cup burrata cheese
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Use as a salad dressing or a drizzle over fresh seafood.
Source: USA Today
Post Comment