What’s all this about the UK throwing away tons of food every year? Here in the appetite kitchen, we eat tons of food and throw away not a bit of it, but then we are the human dustbins of the culinary world. Here are our tips for using up leftovers and produce some may consider past its best…
- Cauliflower leaves
Forget throwing them on the compost or wasting them on your pet bunny – cauli leaves are fantastic roasted. Rub in oil, salt and pepper, and roast in a hot oven for 10 mins or so. Serve as a side tossed with toasted pine nuts. - Aged bananas
Bananas on the turn? Grab them, slice lengthwise (don’t peel), drizzle honey into the cut, wrap in foil and bake in a medium oven for 15 mins or until soft. Serve with flaked almonds and vanilla ice cream. - Hot chilli sauce
Not sure what to do with the remainder of the bottle? Mix it with a squeeze of lime juice, spread over mackerel and grill. Easy! - Cous cous
Stir last night’s leftover cooked cous cous into today’s soup to make a more hearty bowlful, or add a handful of uncooked cous cous to homemade soup 10 mins before the end to bulk it up. - Broccoli stems
Grate raw into homemade coleslaw, or spiralize and stir fry with garlic, grated ginger, pink onion and pancetta. - Rocket
Stir through hot pasta until it wilts and dress with cool-pressed rapeseed oil and grated parmesan. - Leftover risotto
We’ve never met anyone who leaves risotto, but on the off chance that you do, shape into balls around shredded mozzarella, coat in breadcrumbs and shallow fry to make arancini. - Cabbage leaves
What do you mean, you throw away the outer leaves of your savoy cabbage? Who are you, John Paul Getty? Wash, place a chunk of white fish in the middle of each, top with a little pesto and bake. - Tomatoes
Toms over-ripe? Chop and soften in a pan with a little olive oil and garlic. Rub ciabatta slices on both sides with a garlic clove, brush with olive oil, grill on both sides, top with the tomatoes and the dregs of a jar of pesto (two birds!). - Sunday lunch veg
The king of leftovers – mash it all together, stir in a big dollop of mayo, shape into patties and fry in a little oil and butter. Breakfast/lunch of the gods…
