Here’s why you should never throw onion and garlic peels

Are you also someone who has been throwing away onion and garlic peels after using them in the kitchen? Then you need to stop and read this! It is impossible to imagine day-to-day Indian cooking without these two aromatic veggies onion and garlic. Right from adding a strong aroma to the delicacies to enhancing the health quotient of meals, onion and garlic are a lot more than just taste enhancers. Here’s how you can reuse onion and garlic peels in several interesting ways.

Both garlic and onion are packed with the goodness of nutrients such as minerals, vitamins A, C, E, and antioxidants. In fact, onion peels are a rich source of flavonoids known as Quercetin, a potent antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. In the case of garlic, it loses its goddess when the peels are removed, this may sound strange but it is true! Garlic peels have Phenylpropanoid antioxidants, which helps in protecting the heart by reducing bad cholesterol levels, boosts immunity and slows down aging to name a few. Thus, reusing these peels can be worth the effort.

No doubt, adding onion paste or grated onion makes curries, gravies and soups thick, but if you want to increase the consistency of your curries or soup, add onion peels to the soup, once the curry attains a thick texture, remove the peels using a spatula and enjoy a delicious curry or soup.

Adding onion and garlic peels while cooking rice can add more nourishment to the rice. In fact, adding it to biryani and pulao can also make the dish more aromatic, but don’t forget to remove the peel.

This might sound strange but sipping on onion peel tea can help soothe your senses and induce sleep. Much like onions, the peel and skins are packed with nutrients and minerals. Heat a cup of water, add onion peel, green tea, let it seep for 3 minutes, add lemon and honey. Enjoy a healthy cup of tea.