What can I make with leftover food from Christmas?

Are you trying to avoid wasting leftover food from Christmas?

Uninspired with what to do with vegetables in your fridge?

Here are a few ideas!

Bubble and squeak is the most obvious thing bringing sprouts and bacon together with mash potato but there are other things you can do.

Make soup – fry an onion and add the cooked vegetables. Add a tin of tomatoes and top up with water. Boil gently for ten minutes and blitz. Add spice or your favourite herb. You could make this in the slow cooker.

Frittata – chop up leftover vegetables and add to whisked eggs. Fry in a pan for several minutes each side.

Vegetable Rostis – grate carrot, parsnip and potato with a little mild curry powder. Mix together with a little flour and fry for several minutes either side. Serve with an egg for added protein.

Pie – place all the veg and any meat leftovers into a pie dish. Add leftover gravy or a white sauce and pop a puff pastry sheet over the top of the veg mix.

FRIDGE LEFTOVER VEGETABLE CHALLENGE from Phil Upton at BBC CWR on 4th January 2023 – listen here roughly 1 hour 20 minutes and 3 hours 20 minutes – 7.22am and 9.20am onwards.

I got a call from radio presenter Phil asking what could he make with the following items left in his fridge from Christmas and his cupboard.

Feeling the pinch during this cost of living crisis and not wanting to waste food, the aim was to avoid going shopping until the weekend.

Here is the list:

Pasta, ketchup, pasta sauce, gravy, beans, kidney beans, store cupboard spices, Worcestershire sauce, potatoes, peppers, carrots, parsnip, carrot and sweet potato!

Here are some suggestions:

STIR FRY – Start with the vegetables that are looking in the worst state. Stir fry is a great way to use up soft carrots and parsnips.

Add the peppers and broccoli too. Don’t forget to grate or chop finely the broccoli stalk, it actually contains more goodness than the head!

Use ketchup to make a sauce, add some Chinese 5 spice and a splash of water and dash of Worcestershire sauce and pour over the vegetables.

Cooked noodles would make a great addition to this dish if you have them.

PASTA BAKE – cook the pasta with cubed carrots and sweet potato. Drain the water off (place a sieve over the top of the pan and strain off the water.

Add the beans to the pasta, add a little water to loosen the sauce, add a dash of ketchup along with some smoked paprika and chilli.

You could grate some cheese in or place in a casserole dish, add cheese and bake in oven or air fryer to get a crunchie top.

CURRY – Place in a pan or slow cooker the pasta sauce, kidney beans, cubed potatoes, carrots and whatever vegetables remaining.

Add enough water to cover the vegetables along with whatever spices you have. Mild curry powder, chilli, cumin, coriander, turmeric will all work well.

Garlic and ginger would be a great addition if you have them.

EASY OPTION – Slow cooker vegetable and bean stew would be another great meal served with jacket potatoes. Add smoked paprika, chilli and cumin. Any remaining stew could be blitzed into a soup. also could be used as a sauce to accompany pasta.

If you are after more inspiration on making the most of leftovers and saving money on food have a look through some of my other blogs.

Do you waste a lot of food? Lack inspiration with commonly used ingredients?

I can provide private cooking lessons in your home in Warwickshire. I can help you go through your cupboards, fridge and freezer to show you what you can create and make the most out the ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

Get in touch for more information how I can help you and to book a date!

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