16 Perfect Recipes Using Only Fridge Leftovers
What can you actually prepare from fridge leftovers? It turns out, much more than we thought. From Friday's rice and Saturday's chicken to pasta that has lost all hope, we have collected 16 ways to turn what was almost thrown away into a restaurant-quality meal.
In the MasterChef kitchen, they experiment with challenging flavors, but it is doubtful the contestants expected to be asked to invent a restaurant dish from fridge leftovers (new episode on Saturday, after the news, Channel 12). The idea is simple, and research shows the possibilities are limitless. If you have chicken, rice, or vegetables left over, here are 16 simple and surprising recipes to finish any meal. Some are particularly successful, others — at your own risk.
Chicken Quesadilla
The Mexican cousin of the toast. Take leftover chicken thighs, shred the meat, arrange on half a tortilla with cheese and any additions you like, fold, and grill in a pan.
French Toast
A classic. Cut stale challah or bread into slices. Whisk an egg with milk (or heavy cream), sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Dip the slices and fry in butter until golden. Serve with fruit, powdered sugar, and sour cream.
Stir-fry
The perfect solution for "tired" vegetables. Fresh, cooked, or frozen — throw them into a pan with any starch, add soy sauce, teriyaki, or silan. A little sesame oil or an egg will upgrade this to Michelin level.
Shepherd's Pie
Mash leftover meatballs, bolognese, or ground meat with a little tomato paste. Layer in a baking dish with mashed potatoes and bake. Tell the kids it's a traditional English dish.
Thai Rice (Khao Kai Yao)
Heap leftover rice on a plate, top with a fluffy omelet, green onions, and chili sauce. Congratulations, you're in Koh Phangan.
Pan con Tomate
Don't throw away bread! Slice and sear in a pan with olive oil. Grate tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Top the bread with the tomato mixture, add anchovies or tuna, basil, and a bit of labneh.
Fried Rice
Stir-fry leftover rice with an egg, thinly sliced vegetables, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Fry the egg first, remove, sauté vegetables, add rice and sauces, then mix everything together.
Pastelitos
Mix leftover mashed potatoes with an egg, spices, and herbs. Add flour or cheese if needed. Form into patties and fry or bake.
Chocolate Balls
Have leftover chocolate cake? Crumble it, mix with melted chocolate and butter or heavy cream. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
Rice Porridge
Boil milk, add sugar and rice. Serve with cinnamon for a nostalgic dessert.
Chicken Salad
Shred leftover chicken, mix with lettuce and a hard-boiled egg. Dress with mayonnaise and lemon juice for a Parisian-style brunch salad.
Casserole
Mix anything in your fridge with eggs and cheese for a gourmet-style comforting dish.
Pasta Casserole
Mix leftover pasta with cottage cheese, egg, and a little flour. Pour into a pan, top with parmesan and olives, and bake.
Pasta Omelet
Cut leftover spaghetti into small pieces, mix with eggs and yellow cheese, and fry in a pan.
Eyal Shani's Buffet Pita
Stuff leftover potatoes into a pita with cucumber, onion, and sour cream.
Pastuna with Ketchup
Heat up leftover pasta, add tuna and plenty of ketchup. It may not be a Michelin dish, but it's a quick, comforting student staple.
