My Fruitive Challenge: Day 135 — Carrot Peel Recipes
We put the girls to work processing a large bag of carrots so they don’t go to waste. I noticed about 3 cups of carrot peels leftover in a bowl. I thought about composting them but why do that if I can make carrot bread out of them! ChatGPT gave me three carrot peel recipes: the soup looks great. Regrettably, I went with the cake recipe (Bland!), but made up for it with a pretty good carrot juice smoothie:
Carrot Peel Soup Recipe (WFPB)
#### Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups of carrot peels (make sure they’re thoroughly washed)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 potatoes (for thickness and creaminess), chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth (make sure it's low-sodium or homemade if you're following SOS-free)
- 1 tsp turmeric (optional, adds flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits)
- 1 tsp ground ginger (optional, for a bit of spice)
- Salt-free seasoning to taste (e.g., nutritional yeast, herbs like thyme or rosemary)
- Juice from half a lemon (for brightness)
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs for garnish (optional, like parsley or cilantro)
#### Instructions:
1. **Sauté the base**: Heat a large pot and sauté the chopped onion and garlic with a little bit of water or vegetable broth until softened (about 5 minutes).
2. **Add carrot peels**: Add the carrot peels and potatoes to the pot and stir to combine. Let them sauté for a few minutes to release their flavor.
3. **Add broth and seasonings**: Pour in the vegetable broth, turmeric, ginger, and salt-free seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
4. **Blend the soup**: Once the vegetables are cooked, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, transfer the soup in batches to a blender (be careful with the hot liquid).
5. **Finish with lemon and pepper**: After blending, stir in the lemon juice and adjust the seasoning with black pepper to taste.
6. **Serve**: Garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy!
This soup is nutrient-packed and uses the carrot peels to their full potential, which are rich in vitamins and fiber. It’s also versatile, so feel free to add any other veggies you have on hand, like celery or zucchini.
Carrot Bread Recipe for the Bread Maker (WFPB)
Ingredients:
• 2.5 cups carrot peels (or grated carrots)
• 2 cups whole wheat flour (or oat flour for gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup maple syrup (or date syrup)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (almond, oat, soy, etc.)
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (flax egg)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger (optional)
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1/4 tsp salt (optional, leave out if SOS-free)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions for Bread Maker:
1. Prepare the flax egg: Combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
2. Layer ingredients into the bread maker:
• Start by adding the wet ingredients to the bread maker pan first: unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup, plant-based milk, vanilla extract, and the flax egg.
• Then add the dry ingredients: whole wheat flour (or oat flour), baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt (if using).
• Finally, add the grated carrot peels and chopped walnuts or pecans on top. Do not mix – the bread machine will handle this during the kneading cycle.
3. Set the bread maker: Select the Quick Bread or Cake setting (this is for recipes that don’t require yeast). This cycle is typically used for baking bread with baking soda or baking powder as the leavening agent rather than yeast.
4. Check during the mixing cycle: You may want to check during the mixing/kneading stage to ensure all ingredients are well combined. If needed, scrape down the sides to make sure everything mixes evenly.
5. Bake: Allow the bread maker to complete its cycle. This will typically take around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your machine’s settings.
6. Cool: Once the cycle is complete, carefully remove the bread from the machine and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
