Food and sustainability guru Alessandro Vitale explains how to get more out of your vegetable peels, storks, leaves and leftovers, while cutting down on wastage
Fancy turning your vegetable peelings into culinary gold? Food expert and Low Waste Kitchen author Alessandro Vitale – known on social media as Spicy Moustache – has just the trick with his homemade vegetable stock cube recipe.
The eco-foodie, who at 23 moved from Italy to London and set up Sustainable Urban Gardening, shared his kitchen hack with his 2.3 million TikTok followers. Kicking off the tutorial, he demanded: “Stop throwing your leftover vegetable scraps.”
Alessandro then directed: “Use any vegetable’s peel, stork, leaves or leftovers,” highlighting onions, leeks, peppers and turnips as prime candidates. He then showcased how to prep the mix, adding: “Roughly chop them down and add to a pan with herbs, salt and spices and cook until most of the moisture evaporates.”
He also recommended drizzling two teaspoons of olive oil for optimum flavour release. Alessandro then blended the concoction to achieve a “smooth texture”, before instructing viewers to line a tray with parchment, spreading the mixture out ready for the freezer.
When that was complete, Alessandro finished by chopping the puree into cubes, advising his followers: “Wrap each cube in parchment paper or place them in an airtight container. Store the wrapped cubes in the freezer.”
Backing up his innovative cooking approach, he noted in an accompanying caption: “Taking small steps to reduce waste can lead to a positive environmental impact, save money, and spark creativity in the kitchen. By gradually adopting waste-reducing habits, you’re not only contributing to a healthier planet but also discovering new ways to make the most of what you have.”
Grateful for the culinary tip, one person gushed in response: “I want to marry a healthy person like you. How valuable and healthy you are.” Another said: “I love your videos they are so inspiring and straightforward.”
On his website, Alessandro states: “My mission now is to inspire others to reconnect with nature, to grow their own food, and to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. To everyone who has joined me on this journey, your support means the world.”
