Zero waste in the kitchen: beet leaves

Welcome to a new edition of our Zero Waste in the Kitchen column!
Today we enhance beet leaves, often discarded but rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Beet leaves contain the following. vitamin K, essential for blood clotting, vitamin C for the immune system, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and iron. With a little creativity, they can be transformed into tasty side dishes, pasta dishes or nutritious salads, reducing waste in the kitchen without sacrificing taste.

Find out how to turn them into a simple and delicious dish: repassed beet leaves.

Beet leaves

Beet leaves are rich in Vitamin K, which plays a key role in blood clotting, and of Vitamin C which helps to strengthen the immune system. They are also an excellent source of minerals, such as sodium and potassium, and calcium and magnesium.
Also present in the beet is a high amount of iron, very close to that found in spinach, the mineral involved in many of the body's processes, including the formation of new red blood cells and the hemoglobin needed to transport oxygen in the blood.

Beet leaves can be eaten fresh in a salad or used to prepare a tasty main course. Find out in the recipe below how to prepare a tasty side dish.

Repassed beet leaves

Ingredients: 

• 400 g. of beet leaves
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 fresh chili pepper
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Wash and dry the beet leaves. Cut the stalks into approximately 1 cm pieces and chop the leaves.

2. Cut garlic and chili pepper into thin slices.

3. In a frying pan, heat oil and sauté garlic and chili pepper.

4. Add the stems and after 2-3 minutes the leaves as well.

5. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the leaves are soft.

6. Adjust the salt and pepper and serve the side dish hot.

An easy and tasty way to recover and enhance beet leaves!

More Zero Waste ideas and recipes

• Even the leek leaves can become the stars of a Zero Waste recipe: use them to prepare these rolls with bacon.
• I cabbage stalks black can be used to prepare a tasty pesto.
• If you are looking for more recipes Zero wastes visit the dedicated section.