Winter is the season for cosy meals, big flavours, and hearty veg, and your wonky veg box is perfect for all of it. Whether your carrots are curly, your potatoes are knobbly, or your parsnips are a little quirky, these comforting recipes turn imperfect produce into delicious meals. Here are 10 easy, warming winter dishes you can make using the contents of your wonky veg box.
- Rustic Roasted Winter Veg Traybake
Perfect for: wonky carrots, parsnips, potatoes, onions
Chop everything into similar-sized chunks, drizzle with oil, add rosemary and garlic, and roast until golden. Zero fuss, all flavour.
Tip: wonky shapes don’t matter, uneven edges give extra crispy bits.
- Creamy Curried Parsnip Soup
Perfect for: parsnips, onions, apple
Simmer chopped parsnips with curry powder, stock, and a diced apple for sweetness. Blend until silky.
Serve with crusty bread or toasted seeds.
- Wonky Root Veg Mash
Perfect for: potatoes, carrots, swede
Boil a medley of roots and mash with butter, salt, pepper, and a spoon of mustard.
Why it works: mixing “wonky” veg gives a naturally sweet, earthy flavour.
- Winter Vegetable Cottage Pie
Perfect for: carrots, mushrooms, celery, potatoes
Use finely chopped wonky veg for a hearty base. Top with mashed potatoes and bake until bubbling.
Swap for vegans: lentils + dairy-free mash.
- Carrot & Ginger Fritters
Perfect for: bendy carrots
Grate carrots, mix with egg (or flax egg), ginger, flour, salt, and pan-fry into golden fritters.
Best with yoghurt dip or sweet chilli sauce.
- Roasted Beetroot & Orange Salad
Perfect for: misshapen beetroots
Roast until tender, slice, and toss with orange segments, greens, and balsamic.
Optional: sprinkle with feta or toasted walnuts for crunch.
- Swede & Potato Dauphinoise
Perfect for: uneven swede, lumpy potatoes
Layer thin slices with garlic, cream, and thyme. Bake low and slow.
Why we love it: swede adds sweetness and richness to this classic.
- Spiced Winter Veg Stew
Perfect for: literally any leftover wonky veg
Simmer chopped veg with tomatoes, beans, smoked paprika, and cumin.
Serve with crusty bread, rice, or couscous.
Bonus, freezes beautifully for batch cooking.
- Caramelised Onion Gravy
Perfect for: knobbly onions
Cook sliced onions low and slow until golden, add stock, a splash of vinegar, and thickener if needed.
Use it on roast dinners, sausages, pies, mash, anything!
- Winter Veg Bubble & Squeak
Perfect for: leftover cabbage, potatoes, sprouts, carrots
Mix all your cooked leftovers, shape into patties, and pan-fry.
Why it’s great: it uses everything, even the sad-looking stragglers from the veg drawer.
How to Make the Most of Your Wonky Veg Box
- Store root veg in a cool, dark place to keep them firm.
- Peel sparingly, wonky veg tastes great with the skins on.
- Batch cook soups and stews to minimise waste.
- Use trimmings for stocks or compost.
Final Thoughts
Wonky veg might look a bit quirky, but this winter they’re your secret weapon for big, cosy, flavour-packed meals. Every recipe here helps you make the most of your weekly box, while fighting food waste and enjoying seasonal produce at its best.