Turn Your Favourite Singaporean Food Scraps into Garden Gold

Singapore, with its iconic culinary scene, offers a treasure trove of composting potential. Imagine transforming the remnants of your favorite hawker center delights into rich, nutritious compost for your garden after cooking. Here's how you can turn food waste into garden gold using popular Singaporean foods.

(Image credit: Visit Singapore www.visitsingapore.com)

Why Composting?

Composting is an eco-friendly way to recycle organic waste, reduce landfill burden, and enrich your soil with natural fertilizer. By composting, you can help mitigate climate change, save resources, and promote a healthier environment.

Singaporean Food Scraps Perfect for Composting

1. Hainanese Chicken Rice:

- Chicken Bones and Skin: These can be added to a compost heap that gets hot enough to break down proteins safely. Alternatively, you can grind them into powder and sprinkle them on your compost.

- Vegetable Garnishes: The cucumber slices and cilantro sprigs are perfect for the compost bin.

- Pandan Leaves: Used to flavor the rice, these can be composted.

2. Laksa:

- Laksa Coconut Milk Gravy: This can be composted but in moderation due to its fat content. Drain away excess liquid and put the rest into the composter

- Herb Stems: Lemongrass and mint stems are excellent for composting.

- Prawn Shells: Added to the broth for flavor, these can be composted if crushed to speed up decomposition.

3. Chilli Crab:

- Crab Shells: Crush them to speed up decomposition and provide calcium and other minerals to your compost.

- Leftover Vegetables: Any vegetables from your dish can be added straight to the compost bin.

- Aromatics: Ginger, garlic, and chili scraps can be composted.

4. Nasi Lemak:

- Banana Leaves: These decompose well and add structure to your compost pile.

- Grated Coconut: After extracting the coconut milk, the grated coconut can add bulk and aeration.

- Pandan Leaves: Used to flavor the rice, these can be composted.

5. Ayam Penyet:

- Chicken Bones and Scraps: Similar to Hainanese Chicken Rice, these can be composted if the compost heap gets hot enough.

- Spices: The turmeric, galangal, and ginger used in the dish can be composted.

- Herb Stems: Lemongrass and other herb stems used in the marinade can be composted.

6. Bak Kut Teh:

- Pork Bones and Meat Scraps: These can be composted if the compost heap gets hot enough.

- Herbs: Star anise, pepper, and other herbs used in the soup can be composted.

- Garlic Skins: Used to flavor the broth, these can be composted.

7. Char Kway Teow:

- Rice Noodles: These can be composted.

- Vegetables: Any vegetables used in the dish can be added to the compost bin.

- Egg Shells: If you use eggs in the dish, the shells can be composted.

8. Satay:

- Skewers: Bamboo skewers can be composted.

- Chicken or Beef Scraps: These can be composted if the compost heap gets hot enough.

- Spice Marinade Leftovers: Any leftover spices from the marinade can be composted.

9. Rojak:

- Fruit and Vegetable Scraps: Any leftover fruits and vegetables can be composted. Skins and peels removed are also a great source of nutrients, add them to the compost.

- Spices: The spices used in the dressing can be composted.

- Peanut Shells: Used in the sauce, these can be composted if crushed.

10. Seafood Hor Fun:

- Seafood Shells: Shells from prawns or other seafood can be composted if crushed to speed up decomposition.

- Vegetable Scraps: Any vegetables used in the dish can go straight into the compost bin.

- Rice Noodles: These can be composted.

Composting Tips

1. Balance Greens and Browns:

- Greens: Food scraps, coffee grounds, and fresh garden clippings.

- Browns: Dried leaves, cardboard, and paper.

2. Shred and Chop:

- Cutting food scraps into smaller pieces accelerates the composting process by increasing the surface area for microbes to work on.

3. Maintain Moisture:

- Compost should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Adjust the moisture by adding water if it’s too dry or more browns if it’s too wet.

4. Turn Regularly:

- Aerate your compost by turning it regularly. This helps maintain the microbial activity necessary for decomposition.

Final Thought: Community Composting Initiatives

Singapore has several community gardens and composting initiatives. Participating in these can help you learn more about composting, share resources, and contribute to a larger environmental cause.

By composting the leftovers from your favorite Singaporean dishes, not only do you reduce waste, but you also create a nutrient-rich resource for your garden. Happy composting! 🌿🍜