Whether it’s the scraps from a family Sunday dinner or the doggie bag from a restaurant, leftovers are a part of life. They also come in different shapes and sizes, from a half drunken bottle of wine to a loaf of bread someone forgot to serve. Instead of letting it slowly turn into a science experiment in your fridge, why not use it to make other meals? Using leftovers as an ingredient for another meal not only stretches your food dollars, it can also save you loads of time.
Leftover: Any type of meat—chicken, beef, turkey, or pork.
1. What you can make: Chili
Additional ingredients: some type of canned bean (red pinto or black), canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili peppers, carrots, bell peppers, celery and spices like chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder, and red hot pepper flakes
It all starts with the base. As long as there is a tomato base, you can pretty much add anything—whatever vegetables are in the fridge, beer, wine, and even some cinnamon. Take a look at some of these chili recipes to concoct your own:
And sometimes chili begets its own leftovers, which then can be made into other dishes like Cheesy Chili Squares.
2. What you can make: Quesadillas, burritos, and nachos
Additional ingredients: some type of canned bean (red pinto, black, or refried), salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, large soft flour tortillas, a bag of corn tortilla chips, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder, and red hot pepper flakes.
3. What you can make: Omelets
Additional ingredients: lots of eggs, milk or heavy cream, a semi soft cheese, fresh herbs.
The addition of eggs is probably easiest way to transform your leftovers into a new meal. And eggs are not just for breakfast. Some restaurants now offer some sort of egg dish on their dinner menu, whether it’s a main ingredient or the topping. The key to any good omelet is to not overfill it. For every cup of chopped ingredients, you should use three extra large eggs. Some people like to add milk, but it is a matter of preference rather than necessity. Some recipes call for a bit more decadence. This Meat Lover’s Omelet, which uses ham, beef, sausage, and bacon, has a bit of heavy cream in the egg mixture.
Leftover: Stale bread
1. What you can make: Bread Pudding
You should have enough leftover bread to yield almost an entire loaf; bread must be yeast-risen rather than flat.
Additional ingredients: milk, eggs, whipping cream, vanilla extract, butter, sugar, cinnamon, apples, walnuts.
Try this Spiced Apple Wheat Bread Pudding.
Leftover: Wine
1. What you can make: Any recipe that calls for wine
Just because it’s a day or two (or three or four) old doesn’t mean you need to toss the vino. A classic recipe that calls for wine is a red Bolognese sauce or a creative dressing for Mint Blackberry Charbroiled Lamb Chops.
You can also substitute wine for the sherry in this recipe, My Grandma’s Beef Stroganoff.
Leftover: Anything stir-fried, in a Chinese take-out container, or a vegetable going limp in your fridge
1. What you can make: Quiche
Additional Ingredients: lots of eggs, milk or heavy cream, a semi-soft cheese, parmesan cheese, flour, butter, ready-made frozen pie crust, fresh herbs.
If you are not inclined to make your own piecrust, the frozen type will do just fine. Or you don’t have to use a crust, as in this Crustless Crab Quiche.
2. What you can make: Frittata
Additional ingredients: eggs, cheese.
A frittata is an omelet that wants to be a quiche. You start cooking on a stove top and finish in the oven. So just make sure that you use a deep frying pan that can easily transfer from stove top to oven.
Many other simple dishes, such as soups, stir frys, and meatloaf are also great repositories for leftovers. When it comes to making something new out of something old, the only ingredient you really need is creativity.