How to use up a few vegetables

When you have half an onion, a carrot, and a handful of greens, group them by how they cook. Firm vegetables such as carrots and potatoes need more time. Tender greens and sliced cabbage cook quickly. Garlic and onions can flavor the whole pan even when you only have a little.

For noodles, cut to match the cooking time

In vegetable pancit bihon, carrots and cabbage are easier to cook together when you cut the carrots thin and leave the cabbage in wider strips. Start with the firmer pieces and add the tender ones later. Keep the noodles and seasonings ready so the vegetables don’t sit in the pan while you prep.

For eggs, cook watery vegetables first

An Italian-style frittata can use a small amount of several vegetables. Sauté the vegetables before adding the eggs so they soften and release some of their water. Spread them across the pan before pouring in the eggs so you get a bit of each in every slice.

Choose a recipe around the ingredient you have the most of

If you have enough of one vegetable to build a meal around it, search for that first. Add a second ingredient if the results are broad. Compare quantities before settling on a recipe. If you only have a few slices of a vegetable, it might work better as a topping or side than as the base of the meal.

Build a meal when you have only a little of each vegetable

Use the vegetables as a topping and let a pantry staple supply the bulk. A handful of diced peppers or sliced scallions can go into black bean and corn quesadillas. If you have half a cucumber, keep it raw and fold it into a tuna and white bean bowl. A few broccoli florets can go into the oven with paprika tofu. Cut thick broccoli stems into coins so they roast in the same time as the florets.

When adapting a recipe, compare the size and water content of the vegetables. A handful of spinach collapses into a few bites. The same volume of carrots keeps most of its bulk and needs more time in the pan.

Open the ingredient finder to search with your vegetables, or browse recipes by meal and cuisine if you already know what kind of meal you want.