Ah, fickle vegetables. Despite being the mainstay of most of our meals, they are sensitive foods and can burn very easily, especially if you’re extremely busy and take your eye off the ball on, say, a busy day like Christmas.
However, if your veg has burned, all is not quite lost. Don’t go throwing them into the compost just yet.
Thankfully, Valentina Romolini, who is The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini’s “Kitchen Mamma”, a role created by the hybrid hospitality brand’s Italian team to help bring together guests using community kitchens through food, believes that there’s still plenty of life left in those vegetables.
Romolini shared her tips for recovering veg and staying calm in the kitchen when disaster strikes.
How to rescue and repurpose burned vegetables
Romolini says: “If you’ve made the easy mistake of burning your food, don’t panic. Start by assessing the extent of the damage and removing the burnt areas as quickly as possible. You can use a knife or even a grater (depending on the severity).
“If you’re short on time, potatoes are excellent for absorbing unwanted flavours and odours. Peel a couple of potatoes, cook them, and add them to your dish. With any luck, they’ll soak up the unpleasant tastes.
“Alternatively, you can add more spices and herbs to balance the flavour.”
Lovely reliable potatoes.
Romolini adds: “Creativity is key in the kitchen. If the dish still doesn’t look or taste great after scraping, consider repurposing it. Burnt vegetables can be transformed into purées, cooked with butter or cheese, or added to soups.
“Potatoes can be fried with butter or olive oil and seasoning or used in frittatas or omelettes. A simple mistake in the kitchen doesn’t mean your food has to go to waste!”
Finally, she assures, even if your vegetables are done for, the day isn’t: “Remember, Christmas and cooking are about making connections, having fun, and experiencing joy - especially when sharing these moments with others.
“Burning your dish isn’t the end of the world. Your friends and family won’t mind, there’s always a way to salvage something from it, and what matters most is the enjoyment and memories you create along the way.”
Merry Christmas.