Hey, don’t throw away those leafy tops of carrots, radish, or beets! Leafy top pesto is a thing, and it’s delish. This is a fantastic beetroot and radish top pesto recipe to reuse and reduce food wastage. Most elements in this recipe are made from offcuts. We served the pesto with a mix of veggie offcuts, that one would normally throw away – but actually, they make serious yummy snacks!
Veg top pesto is versatile, you can use carrot tops, mix them up, or substitute the pumpkin seeds for sunflower seeds or even almonds.
Prep time 25 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes
Serves 6
Ingredients
Directions
Ingredients
For the Leafy Pesto:
Carrot tops of 1 bunch of carrots, washed
Radish leaves from 1 bunch of radishes, washed
Handful of fresh coriander
125ml (1/2 cup) Food Lover’s Market Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-2 small garlic cloves
Juice of ½ lemon
60ml (1/4 cup) butternut or pumpkin seeds
Salt and pepper, to taste
Veg Off-cuts Crudité Platter:
Reserved potato peels
Reserved carrot peels
Reserved broccoli and cauliflower stalks
4-6 slices of stale bread
Olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
10 ml (2 tsp) dried mixed herbs
4 radishes, thinly sliced
Directions
For the Leafy Pesto:
Place all ingredients in a blender and season to taste. Blend until smooth. Pour the pesto in a serving bowl and set aside until needed.
For the Crudité Platter:
Shallow or deep fry the potato and carrot peels until slightly browned and crispy. Drain on a kitchen towel and season with salt.
Heat a griddle pan with a dash of oil and fry the cauliflower and broccoli stalks for about 5 minutes per side on a high heat or until browned and cooked.
Cut the bread to your liking. Drizzle some olive oil on the bread and sprinkle with garlic and herbs, toast in the oven for about 10 minutes or until browned and crispy.
To arrange your platter, arrange the potato and carrot peels on a serving platter along with the broccoli and cauliflower steaks, crostini and sliced radishes. Serve with the leafy pesto and you have a great snack platter.
Additional Notes
This recipe is a fantastic way to reduce food waste while enjoying a flavorful and satisfying snack. By repurposing often-discarded parts of vegetables, you’re not only saving money but also contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle. Enjoy the deliciousness of this platter while knowing you’re making a positive impact on the environment.
Tips:
Experiment with different herbs for the pesto, such as basil or parsley.
To add extra crunch, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds on the platter.
For a vegan option, use plant-based milk instead of dairy milk in the pesto.
Get creative with your bread choices, such as sourdough or rye.
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