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Chef Vojtech Végh's 5 Ways to Reimagine Food Waste this Lunar New Year

Posted by Vojtech Végh / 23-Jan-2025

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With Lunar New Year around the corner, kitchens are gearing up for a busy period. 

Traditionally, Lunar New Year celebrations are all about prosperity, fortune and wealth. This year, let’s extend that spirit: we can preserve our wealth by reducing the amount of food waste in our bins, and support our prosperity by maximising the nutritional value of every ingredient in our kitchens. 

Here are 5 creative ways to combine prosperity, wealth and food waste prevention in your kitchen.

1. Watermelon: Make the Most of Every Slice 

Few people know this, but 100% of the watermelon is edible, including its rind. Watermelon rind is one of the most wasted parts of all fruits, yet it’s also one of the easiest to use. The rind has many health benefits, including libido-boosting powers thanks to a high concentration of amino acids.

Watermelon rind is also very easy to use, as it works well in both savoury and sweet dishes. Peel off the thin layer of dark green skin, as this is usually too tough to use, and work with the white part of the rind.

Chop it up and turn it into a chutney, or incorporate it into your stir-fries or fritters to give them an extra nutritional boost.

2. Dragonfruit: The Potential is in the Peel

Dragonfruits can create a lot of waste, as around 20-30% of the fruit weight is its peel. The good news is that the peel is not only edible but also rich in health benefits. 

Dragonfruit peel is used in traditional Lunar medicine, with good reason: it contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Make sure to wash the peel well and cut off any ugly or black bits. You can chop up the peel, dehydrate it and use it to make a healthy tea. Alternatively, cook the chopped peels lightly and season with spices and condiments like soy sauce, chillies or rice vinegar. Because of their bright colour, they look great in fresh spring rolls or incorporated in stir-fried noodles.

3. Lettuce: Look Beyond the Leaves 

Careful handling and correct storage can help us avoid a lot of lettuce waste, but equally important is the level of trimming. Lettuces contain significant amounts of vitamins that can help us with improved vision and strengthen our bones, so they are a very valuable ingredient in our kitchen.

Make sure the trimming is reduced to a necessary minimum, but if you end up with any bottom parts that are still nice, you can chop them up and incorporate them into a creamy vegetable soup. 

One of my favourite ways to use any lettuce trimmings you are left with is to shred them and smoke with hickory wood chips - the flavour might surprise you. Smoked lettuce works perfectly as a filling in dumplings and spring rolls.

4. Mandarins: Sweet Uses for Zesty Peels

If you find yourself with excess mandarins, consider yourself lucky - they’re packed with nutrients that support your immunity and a healthy brain. Use the mandarins for juicing, which can be reduced to a syrup to extend shelf-life and incorporate it into your desserts or drinks behind the bar.

Nutrients are not limited to the flesh only, as peels have lots of benefits as well. Mandarin peels are not a new ingredient in Lunar cooking and they are very versatile. 

The easiest way to repuporse peels is to dehydrate and blend into a powder, which can be then used in a spice mix or to make a healthy tea. Whenever possible, use organic fruits or make sure the skin is well washed.

5. Dumplings: A Pocket Full of Trimmings

Dumpling filling gives us a perfect opportunity to make the most of all the flavour and nutritional qualities of products that might otherwise go to waste, such as various peels and trimmings. You can simply chop up ingredients like watermelon rinds, dragonfruit peels, lettuce trimmings or spring onion tops, add a good amount of seasoning and spices and transform into a healthy and flavourful filling. 

This will not only help you with upcycling your products, but you also maximise the nutritional value of the filling.


Celebrate Prosperity and Sustainability this Lunar New Year 

Making the most of every ingredient is not just good for your wallet - it’s also beneficial for your health and the environment. While leftovers traditionally symbolize wealth and prosperity, reducing overproduction and maximizing ingredient use are the ultimate ways to honor that spirit.

Making the most of every ingredient is not only good for our wallets, but it’s also good for our health and our environment. While it’s traditional to have leftovers as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, one of the best ways to prevent food waste is to limit overproduction and maximise the use of everything in our kitchens. How will you be reimagining food waste this Lunar New Year?

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