Carrot Top 'Pesto?' ??

[rotuts]

in today's NYTimes 'Food' section there is an article called 'Starve a Landfill'

 

its  mostly about recent requirements to waste less food and to compost rather than toss out

 

into the general garbage

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/dining/efficiency-in-the-kitchen-to-reduce-food-waste.html?ref=dining&_r=0

 

however, the add some Rx's for things generally tossed out or now composted :

 

Carrot Top Pesto struck me as a bit odd :
 

Blanch carrot tops, then make pesto.

 

fair enough.

 

has anyone done this ?  what's it like ?

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I've not made pesto from them but I have tried eating carrot tops.  Landfills have a purpose.

[rotuts]

as I thought

 

so  ....   into the composting bin makes a lot more sense.

 

of course you can compost those tops through a Rabbit and eventually make a

 

very tasty dish should the Rabbit get cranky ....

Edited March 4, 2015 by rotuts (log)

[chefmd]

Never made pesto but did try to saute particularly good looking carrot tops from a farmers market carrot bunch.  I love all kind of greens, can eat them all day long, but carrot tops did not taste good at all.  Only tried it once, now throw them away.

[gfweb]

Carrot tops have a unique taste. Kind of astringent, but not in that oxalate kind of way. Vaguely in the dill spectrum, but different.

 

Maybe use a little in a cole slaw.....

 

Nah.

[liuzhou]

I don't understand the antipathy to carrot tops. I find them quite inoffensive. 

 

I wouldn't be looking to make pesto with them, though. They don't come anywhere near basil.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

As a coincidence, last night I was reading Elizabeth Andoh's Washoku:  Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen.  Andoh suggests using minced carrot tops in soup.  Japan may have limited space for landfills...though I suppose one could always throw them in the ocean.

 

Beet tops, in contrast, I find quite tasty.