Tom Colicchio shares three recipes that help prevent food waste

As people discover a joy of cooking, they look to celebrity chefs for easy, tasty recipes. These Tom Colicchio recipes might become kitchen staples.

Are you ready to cook some Tom Colicchio recipes? While foodies enjoy watching Chef Tom on Top Chef and the Independent Restaurant Coalition relies on his leadership, home cooks are ready to cook some of his delicious recipes. It is time to open the pantry and whip up a tasty meal.

Cooking at home has given both foodies and new cooks a reason to discover the enjoyment of being in the kitchen. Luckily, many celebrity chefs are posting cooking videos online to help give home cooks. Chef Tom has partnered with Two Good to share three recipes that are not only easy, but also help to prevent food waste.

With more people buying larger quantities at the grocery store, consumers need to be conscious of food waste. There is nothing worse than finding something buried in the back of the refrigerator or pantry that has expired. With a little recipe creativity, food waste can be prevented, and ingredients can be maximized. It is a win win situation.

In honor of Earth Week, Chef Tom partnered with Two Good on three recipes. As part of their Make Food Go Further Campaign, there are a series of videos where everyone can learn how to make these Tom Colicchio recipes.

According to Chef Tom, he said, “Two Good is doing their part to make food go further during Earth Week and I’m proud to have partnered with them to bring consumers options on how to stretch their food supplies at home and prevent food waste. We only have one earth and it’s our job to protect it.”

The three recipes used Two Good Greek Lowfat Yogurt. Two Good contains less sugar than other yogurts yet it still has the creamy texture that people enjoy. Using Greek yogurt in recipes can offer great flavors in a variety of ways. Greek yogurt is a pantry staple.

One of the Tom Coliccho recipes is Yogurt Chutney with Asparagus and Salmon. The yogurt is used in both a marinade and a yogurt chutney. Having a yogurt chutney recipe on hand is always a good choice. It has a lot of versatility.

Here’s how to make Tom Colicchio’s Yogurt Chutney with Asparagus and Salmon.

"YOGURT CHUTNEY WITH ASPARAGUS AND SALMONServes 230 minutesSalmon Marinade:1 cup Two Good Greek Plain Lowfat YogurtJuice of 1 lime1 tsp mustard seed1 tsp ground cumin1 tsp ground coriander2 4-6oz salmon filetsYogurt Chutney:2 tbs coconut oil1 bunch asparagus – chopped1 bunch scallion – white & light greens chopped*2 leeks – trimmed & whites chopped*1 chili pepper – chopped (optional)1 tsp mustard seeds1 tsp ground cumin1 tsp coriander seeds¾ cup plain Two Good Greek Plain Lowfat Yogurt4 tbs olive oilDirections:1. To make the marinade – whisk yogurt, lime juice, and spices together in a shallow bowl. Add salmon and coat on all sides. Allow to marinate for 1 to 2 hours in the fridge.2. In a medium sauté pan, melt 1 tbs coconut oil. Add mustard seeds, cumin and coriander seeds and heat until they start to pop. Lower heat.3. Add scallions, leeks and chili to the pan. Add additional coconut oil as needed. Cook until vegetables are soft.4. Add 1 cup water** to the sauté pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.5. Remove pan from heat and add 3/4 cup plain Two Good yogurt. Mix with vegetables. Season with salt & pepper and remove the pan from heat.6. In a new medium sauté pan, heat 2 tbs olive oil. Add asparagus and sauté until heated through, approximately 5-8 minutes. Remove cooked asparagus from pan into a bowl.7. Heat an additional 2 tbs olive oil in the sauté pan over medium heat. Remove the salmon from the marinade and sear salmon filet – approximately 3 minutes per side.8. To serve, spoon chutney into a shallow plate or bowl. Top with asparagus and seared salmon filet. Season with salt & pepper"

For a more ambitious recipe, Chef Tom shared Lamb and Eggplant with Yogurt Relish. Lamb, when cooked well, is a delicious meal.

As Chef Tom shows, this recipe is definitely one to master.

Lastly, Chef Tom has created a Crispy Chickpea Croutons with Yogurt Dressing. The yogurt dressing in this recipe is quite versatile.

While it was created for this dish, it could be used in other recipes. This recipe is on to definitely keep your in your repertoire.

"CRISPY CHICKPEA CROUTONS WITH YOGURT DRESSINGServes 2 – 430 minutesChickpea Croutons:1 cup dried chickpeas (or 2 cans chickpeas)3 tbsp olive oil3 shallots – sliced2-inch ginger knob – chopped2 tsp. Turmeric1 tsp. Chili Powder1 tsp. Ground Fennel Seed1 tsp. Ground Coriander5 tsp Thai Chili powder (optional)Yogurt Dressing:1 cup Plain Two Good Yogurt¼ cup white wine vinegar1 cup chopped fresh herbs – parsley, or cilantroor dillSalad:2 cups arugula1 endive – slicedDirections:1. In a bowl, cover chickpeas by at least 2 inches of cold water. Add 1 teaspoon baking soda and let soak at room temperature overnight. Drain and rinse.2. In a medium pot, cover soaked chickpeas by at least 4 inches of water. Add the remaining teaspoon baking soda and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium high and let cook at a vigorous simmer until chickpeas are quite soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain. (Can be made day ahead)3. In a sauté pan, heat 3 tbsp olive oil. Add drained chickpeas to the pan. Add shallots, ginger and spices. Season with salt & pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.4. To make yogurt dressing, mix yogurt, white white vinegar and herbs together. If the mixture seems thick, add a bit of water. Season with salt & pepper.5. Toss salad and yogurt dressing.6. To plate, place chickpeas in a shallow bowl or plate. Top with salad."

All of these recipes are more than delicious. They are smart, prevent food waste and introduce new flavors and textures. Now anyone at home can cook like a Top Chef.

Are you going to try these Tom Colicchio recipes? What are some of your favorite recipes to cook at home?