When Life Gives You Random Greens
This week, we're taking the advise of wise Mama Gump and looking at our veg bag like a box of chocolates - in the Hungry Gap, you never know what you're gonna get! So what to do when you have a bag of seemingly random greens? We've got some ideas below that are both easy, tasty and avoid waste so you get the most of out your veg bag. All of them can be adapted for any combination of greens or veggie bits and bobs that need a good home. We're inching closer each week to the true spring season and the abundance of new crops. Please bear with us and the UK climate till we get there.
Make a Pesto
You can make a pesto out of any leafy green! Spinach, rocket, wild garlic, parsley, carrot tops, beet greens, etc - it can all be pesto. You can mix them all together in one lovely melange of green things. Follow this basic ratio for never-fail pesto: 1:2:2:8 - 1 part nuts, 2 parts oil, 2 parts grating cheese, 8 parts leaves or herbs. Then add garlic, lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. Presto! A delicious sauce that makes use of all greens and avoids waste. More inspo here.
Make a Pie
With a little effort, a mixed greens pie or tart can be a super easy meal that will feed you for days. You can also get kids involved in the prep for a family activity and to get them into eating more veg. In addition to greens, throw in any veg that roasts well - beetroot, that squash piece, fennel. Mix with cheese or beaten eggs for a quiche-like filling. Pureed tofu also works well. Then add whatever seasoning and spice you desire and bake. Store bought short crust or puff pastry makes it all extra easy. No one needs to be a hero on a week night.
Make a Salad
99.9% of our greens can be eaten raw, making a salad a great option for eating them all up. Some flavours may be more unique or unusual, but that's what makes a salad interesting - no two bites are the same. Tie flavours together with an easy dressing - look at all these ideas - and you're on your way to veggie bliss. Top tip - plan to wash all your veg before you store them so they are ready to go when you need them and cooking is a breeze. Future-hungry-you with thank you.
Make a Soup
Soup may be the most forgiving dish out there. We can't think of any veg that can't go in a soup. Not convinced? Try this lettuce soup recipe. Whether you like yours chunky, blended or strained, there is a soup for everything and everyone. Chuck all the ingredients in, leave it on the hob to simmer for no time or a long time, soup will forgive you. Make it in the dutch oven, crockpot, slow cooker, Instapot, Thermomix, even the air fryer. And there will be leftovers so make room in the freezer. Add a crusty side of bread, and you have a meal.
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