If you’ve ever stared down a bunch of beet greens or a pile of carrot tops wondering what to do with them—here’s your answer: pesto.
At Misfits Market, we’re all about reducing food waste while making tasty meals easy. A lot of the produce we rescue comes with delicious extras—greens, stems, fronds, and leaves that often get tossed. But these “scraps” are packed with flavor and nutrients, and they make the perfect base for a homemade pesto.
Take our broccoli niños, for example: These delicate, sweet mini broccoli bunches are exclusive to Misfits Market. You can blanch them whole—stems, leaves, florets, and all—and blitz them into a vibrant pesto sauce that’s perfect for pasta, toast, or roasted veggies.
Here are a few more food scraps that make flavorful, surprising pesto bases:
- Carrot Tops: Peppery and herbaceous, these greens blend beautifully with garlic, lemon, and parmesan.
- Beet Greens: Earthy and rich, they become creamy and sweet when paired with walnuts and a splash of balsamic.
- Radish Greens: Bold and spicy—try them with basil, pine nuts, or almonds for a punchy pesto.
- Turnip Greens: Slightly bitter, but mellowed by olive oil, garlic, and hard cheese.
- Fennel Fronds: Aromatic with a hint of licorice, they add freshness, especially with citrus zest.
- Dandelion Greens: Bitter and peppery, dandelion greens pack a flavorful punch. Blend with lemon, garlic, and cashews or walnuts for a bright, zippy pesto that’s perfect for pasta or grain bowls.
- Celery Leaves: Mild and herbal, great with lemon juice and almonds for a bright, springy pesto.
- Swiss Chard Stems and Greens: Slightly nutty and earthy—pair with garlic, walnuts, and chili flakes.
The beauty of pesto is that it’s flexible. Mix and match greens, nuts, cheeses, and oils until you find your favorite flavor combo. Not sure where to start? Check out our collection of pesto recipes for inspiration.
So next time you’re meal prepping, skip the trash can and give your veggie scraps a second life. Because making pesto is always a good idea—especially when it helps fight food waste.