NPR listeners share their favourite methods to prepare dinner with leftovers : NPR

Leftovers are a surprisingly controversial subject. Some folks love them (consuming chilly pizza whereas standing in entrance of the fridge is a treasured pastime of mine). And some folks cannot stand the thought of consuming yesterday’s meals … once more!

Well, it seems that just a few of you in our viewers are certainly “leftovers people.” And we’re not simply speaking about consuming Monday’s casserole on Thursday or having that final little bit of takeout rooster parm.

Some of you take pleasure in turning them into fully new dishes, stuffing them into ancho peppers or making Polish beet soup simply to make use of up your fridge’s odds and ends.

Here are seven methods to remodel your leftovers, shared by our viewers. They come from a query we requested final month in a narrative and podcast episode on the best way to cut back meals waste, by journalist Emily Siner. These have been edited for size and readability.

Layer your leftovers in a biryani casserole

Whenever I’ve random bits of meat, veggie stir-fry or dal, I layer them right into a baking dish, alternating with rice (leftover rice works fairly properly for this). To elevate it, I throw contemporary mint on high and drizzle over a bit heat milk infused with saffron strands. Seal it tightly with foil, bake at 400 F, and it tastes model new. — Pradosh Mohapatra

Smash your leftovers right into a crunchy panini

Grab your favourite bread and slather it with a straightforward DIY aioli (whisk collectively mayo, olive oil, sriracha, garlic or garlic powder, lemon juice and Dijon mustard). Stuff it together with your leftover meats and veggies, then hit it within the sandwich press till it is sizzling and crunchy. — Pradosh Mohapatra

Don’t sleep on that rooster carcass

The one factor I search for probably the most is a leftover rotisserie rooster. After thanking the rooster for her service, I separate any usable meat and refrigerate. The relaxation goes right into a inventory pot with leftover frozen celery tops, onion skins and perhaps the odd garlic clove. I add in bay leaf, sage powder, salt and floor pepper. After it cooks for hours, I’ll pressure [the stock], style it for taste, after which resolve what to do with it.

One of my favourite methods to make use of the leftover rooster and inventory is to make rooster and dumplings. Another is a porridge-like soup, sort of like a juk. I put 1 / 4 of a cup of rice, diced up greens and leftover rooster in 32 oz. or so of inventory. Good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. — Jennifer Webster

Stuff your leftovers into ancho peppers

Slice ancho peppers lengthwise into halves, de-seed them and steam with a bit water within the microwave. Then stuff them with any combo of roasted veggies like onion, squash, broccoli and carrots, and rice or beans.

Make a sauce of tomatoes or tomato paste and leftover chopped herbs or dried spices like cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika and oregano. Spread a skinny layer of sauce in a dish, then add the [stuffed] peppers, the remainder of the sauce on high, and canopy with foil. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Top with chopped cilantro when you’ve got it. — Jennifer Sabie

Scramble your leftovers with tofu for brekkie

Chop leftover veggies and add them to tofu for a high-protein low-fat breakfast. To prep the tofu, squeeze out extra water then dice or crumble it.

Heat a teaspoon of impartial oil in a skillet over low-medium warmth. Then toss the tofu with dietary yeast and brown barely. Add chopped veggies like peas, carrots, potatoes, inexperienced beans, limas, and so forth.

I additionally add seeds like sesame, poppy and uncooked pumpkin seeds; and herbs and spices like sage, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, dried onion or garlic or salt-free mix. Simmer till flavors blended.

If you’ve got one or two items of fruit, slice and serve alongside for a lovely and engaging plate. — Jennifer Sabie

Make a Polish beet soup to make use of up your odds and ends

Barszcz Ukraiński, a candy and bitter beet soup with chunky greens, can actually dissipate a variety of odds and ends within the fridge. As lengthy as you’ve got the requisite beets, you may add beans, quite a lot of greens and meat in case you like. Then add vinegar and sugar to style.

Toppings embody leftover boiled or mashed potatoes, arduous boiled eggs, bitter cream or yogurt, chopped herbs (classically dill), meat (classically kielbasa, however use what you want), horseradish, or spicy mustard. Toss the toppings within the sweet-sour soup and luxuriate in. — Courtney Zola

Press your leftovers right into a tacky quesadilla

Flour tortillas keep nice endlessly within the fridge and are all the time in search of a solution to get into bother. Add any combo of meat, like shrimp, and veggies, like charred onions or mushrooms, with shredded cheese. — Paula Stellefson

The story was edited by Meghan Keane. The visible editor is CJ Riculan. We’d love to listen to from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or e-mail us at LifeKit@npr.org.

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