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10 root to stem recipes

Rescue tasty trimmings with these thrifty recipes that make use of the bits you might normally throw away. ‘Root-to-stem’ eating encourages you to cook and eat every edible part of fruit and veg, including the leaves, skin, seeds and stalks. These clever recipes will help you love your broccoli stalks and butternut squash seeds, cut down on food waste and make sure you get the most nutrients possible out of these ingredients.

Miso squash ramen
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Miso squash ramen

The last decade has been about less waste and more taste. This ramen recipe – where the whole butternut squash is used (skin and seeds included) – is a clever way to be more sustainable and add a little extra goodness.

  1. Preheat the oven to gas 9, 240°C, fan 220°C. Toss the squash with 1 tbsp sesame oil on a large baking tray. Roast for 30-35 mins, turning halfway, until tender.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a pan over a low heat, add the garlic and ginger and cook for 2 mins. Add 1.7ltr boiling water, the sliced greens stalks and miso paste. Increase the heat to medium and simmer for 15 mins.
  3. Heat a frying pan over a medium-high heat and dry-fry the squash seeds, stirring, for 3-4 mins, Add 2 tsp soy sauce and fry for 1 min or until sticky. Set aside.
  4. Cook the eggs for 6 mins in a pan of boiling water, then drain. Run under cold water, then peel and slice in half.
  5. Separate and add the noodles to the miso broth. Cook for 1 min, then add the sliced greens leaves and remaining soy sauce and cook for 1 min or until tender.
  6. Serve in bowls. Top with the squash, eggs, seeds and a drizzle of sriracha, if using.

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  • Ingredients
  • 1 medium butternut squash (about 750g), halved and cut into 2cm chunks, seeds reserved
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, crushed
  • 5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
  • 200g fresh greens, hard stalks finely sliced; leaves sliced into thin strips
  • 50g miso paste
  • 1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce, plus 2 tsp
  • 4 eggs
  • 300g pack straight-to-wok udon noodles
  • sriracha, to taste (optional)