How do you recycle carrot tops?

Don't throw away your carrot tops! Full of goodness, you can eat them too!

Did you know? They contain 6 times more vitamin C than the root. They are rich in vitamins A and C, calcium and iron, and antioxidants.

Rather than throwing away your carrot tops, why not give them a second life? Discover our tips for cooking, beauty and composting!

So how do you recycle carrot tops?

6 ways to recycle carrot tops

Say goodbye to waste and hello to zero waste! Discover 6 economical and ecological ways to reuse carrot tops.

🍽️ A cake or muffins with carrot tops

Carrot tops are delicious in cakes, muffins and quiches! Discover our recipe for carrot tops cake.

Ingredients:

• A bunch of carrot tops
• 5cl olive oil
• 200g flour
• 1 sachet yeast
• 3 eggs
• 10cl milk
• 100g grated cheese

Recipe:

• Blend a bunch of tops with the olive oil.
• Mix the flour, eggs, baking powder, milk and greens in a bowl.
• Add the grated cheese.
• Pour into a cake tin.
• Bake for 40-45min at 180°C.

🍜 A broth or soup

Broth with carrot tops

Carrot tops are perfect for enhancing the taste of your homemade broths. Add them to your usual vegetables for a fragrant flavor. They also go well with aromatic herbs such as parsley or thyme.

Ingredients for 1L of broth :

• 1 bowl of leaf tops
• 4 sprigs rosemary
• 2 garlic cloves
• Pepper and salt
• 4 pinches cayenne or Espelette pepper
• 6 cm ginger

Recipe:

1. Wash your tops thoroughly.
2. Peel and chop the ginger and garlic. Coarsely crush the pepper.
3. Place the tops in a casserole dish, then cover with water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and add herbs and spices. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, cover and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
5. Strain the stock through a sieve and store in a cool place.

This broth with carrot tops can be used in a wide range of dishes: risotto, gazpacho-style cold soups, or as an original base for vinaigrettes.

Carrot-leaf soup

Make delicious soups with your carrot tops! 

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch carrot tops (60-70 g)
• 2 to 3 potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups water or vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper

Recipe:

1. Wash and dry the tops
2. Peel and chop the potatoes.
3. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until tender.
4. Add the tops and potatoes and sauté briefly.
5. Pour in the water or stock and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Blend until smooth and adjust seasoning.

🍵 A detox infusion

As an infusion, carrot tops are ideal for purifying the body. Boil a handful of tops in a liter of water for about 10 minutes, then strain the mixture. This infusion aids digestion and promotes the elimination of toxins. Add honey, lemon, thyme, etc. to enhance the taste.

A mouthwash to soothe mouth ulcers:
Carrot tops can also be used to relieve mouth ulcers. Pour 2 glasses of water and a handful of carrot tops into a saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the water. Once lukewarm, use as a mouthwash to soothe irritations.

🍝 A pesto with carrot tops

Pasta, pizza, salads... carrot pesto is a great anti-gaspi recipe!

Ingredients:

• The tops of a bunch of carrots (about 60-70 g, or 7-8 carrots)
• 60 g grated Parmesan cheese
• 60 g almond, pine nut or walnut powder
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 120 g olive oil
• Salt and pepper for seasoning

Preparing the pesto :

1. Rinse carrot tops thoroughly to remove impurities, then dry gently.
2. Place the tops in the bowl of a blender with the Parmesan, almond powder and garlic cloves.
3. Blend to a coarse texture. Pour in the olive oil a little at a time, continuing to blend until you obtain a smooth, homogenous consistency.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. And it's ready!

This tasty pesto is perfect with pasta, salads or even homemade pizzas. Store in a jar in the fridge for a week.

🌿 A vegetable dye

Color your textiles with carrot tops! They generally produce a yellow to light green hue.

The most suitable textiles for vegetable dyeing are natural ones such as wool, cotton, linen and silk.

1. Proceed with the mordanting process, a key step that will enable the color to adhere better. Place the textile in a water bath with white vinegar and leave to soak for 24 hours. Rinse off.
2. Finely chop the carrot tops and place in a saucepan. Add about three times their volume in water. Bring the mixture to the boil, then simmer over a low heat for an hour.
   Strain your water to remove any bits of vegetable matter.
3. Dip your textile in the dye. Leave it to soak for several hours, ideally 24 hours for more intense color. Remember to stir regularly to obtain an even shade.
4. Remove the fabric from the dye and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
   Let it dry naturally in the open air and shade. 

Wash at a maximum temperature of 30-40°C to preserve color longer.

♻️ An asset to compost

Or compost your carrot tops! 

Add your carrot tops to your compost bin. With a little patience, they can be transformed into an organic amendment to nourish your soil and your plants!

Don't forget to balance your compost by adding dry matter such as cardboard, twigs or dead leaves.

👉 To make the most of your waste, think about composting! Discover our range of composters compact and stylish.