Creative Ways to Turn Leftover Food into New Meals
Shutterstock / Joe Belanger At a young age, I learned from my Italian grandmother that every food has a purpose-and
At a immature age, I learned from my Italian grandmother that every food has a purpose-and a repurpose. "Don't waste…create!" she would say. Every bit food waste balloons into a global issue, home cooks tin can take steps to reduce their own waste, saving money and energy, without sacrificing skilful eats. Here are a few of my go-to ideas for turning leftovers into another repast.
i. Chicken
Chicken is ane of the virtually versatile foods to have every bit leftovers. It makes a low-cal, salubrious weeknight meal. Pair it with just near any flavor or cuisine. Pass on the chicken sandwiches and instead go creative with i of these ideas:
• Skip the Mexican restaurant and enjoy Taco Tuesday at domicile. Shred leftover chicken to make homemade chicken tacos. Serve guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo on the side and let guests spice up their tacos whatsoever manner they delight.
• Meal-prep for the week with quick and easy salad. Tiptop just about whatsoever greens with chicken, nuts and chopped veggies. We love this Thai-way recipe, too as this chicken salad studded with almonds and fruit.
two. Steak
Got leftover steak? Lucky you! Y'all can stretch it by slicing information technology thinly and combining it with a veggie-packed meal.
Tip: While it's easy to microwave leftovers, heating steak in the microwave makes it unpleasantly tough. Instead, reheat it on the stove or in the oven-but simply until hot, or you'll dry out information technology out.
• Stir fry isn't just for veggies! Toss your leftover steak into a veggie stir fry to make a protein-packed dish the whole family will beloved.
• Skip takeout and brand this piece of cake lo mein at home. Adding a sauce and new flavors makes leftovers feel annihilation simply redundant.
• Make veggie fajitas and toss in some sliced steak, or try delicious quesadillas.
• Briefly warm in a pan with herbs, and tuck into pita breads for a Mediterranean-manner sandwich.
3. Rice
I sometimes make extra rice just so I can take leftovers. Rice is the perfect complement to loads of recipes; whether it'due south the principal ingredient or a flavorful side, getting creative with this starchy grain is simple.
• Hither'south a archetype recipe for fried rice, which gets an fifty-fifty amend texture when fabricated with leftover rice, which is drier than fresh rice. For a new accept, try this recipe for fried rice assurance, which make a crunchy, indulgent side dish.
• Toss rice into well-nigh any casserole recipe, especially if yous want to stretch the ingredients. In this spicy recipe, rice plays a starring role.
• Got a sugariness tooth? Terminate off the night (and those leftovers) with an easy rice pudding recipe.
four. Pasta
Don't be miffed if you've ever made also much pasta and not enough sauce; it happens. Hot or cold, pasta is one of those ingredients that tin can stand up on its own with a tasty sauce or be the perfect base for a footling something extra.
• Take those leftovers and plow them into a hearty casserole. Whether shrimp and macaroni or tuna noodle, at that place's a goulash for every occasion.
• Sometimes, lettuce just isn't filling enough. Pasta salads tin can easily be fabricated in advance, making them the perfect dejeuner or dinner for a busy week.
5. Cooked Vegetables
It'due south easy for cooked veggies to go unused…in that location's something a little less appealing (and a little soggier) about cooked-then-refrigerated vegetables. Instead of tossing them in the garbage, toss them on the grill!
• Grilled vegetables accept never tasted so skilful-from bacon-wrapped asparagus to grilled cauliflower, information technology's piece of cake to reheat these veggies on the grill and brand them into a master side dish.
• One time once more, casseroles to the rescue!
• Chop upward cooked veggies and add them to any soup. Heat through, and they'll take on new flavors, and boost the veggie power of your soup recipe.
Side by side time yous're facing down a fridge with cipher merely a couple old leftover containers, don't fret that y'all have nothing to eat. If in doubt, yous can ever put an egg on it.
Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/creative-ways-to-turn-leftover-food-into-new-meals/
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