Leftovers are generated in almost every household, whether they consist of fresh ingredients or leftovers from the previous day. "Leftover meal" refers both to consuming leftover food, such as reheating a dish or reusing already cooked meals, and to using ingredients that are either about to spoil or simply left over in the refrigerator. This way, you can avoid throwing away food and conserve valuable resources.
Leftover recipes
Don't have anything to eat at home? It's often worth taking a second look in the fridge or pantry. Leftovers from already cooked meals or fresh ingredients can often be used to quickly conjure up delicious new dishes. This not only saves you a trip to the supermarket, but also helps the environment by reducing food waste, and it also encourages you to get creative.
Here we have compiled a small selection of ways you can cleverly use up leftover food.
Use ripe bananas
We've all been there: those one or two bananas that turn brown faster than expected. They might be too sweet or too soft to eat right away, but that's no reason to throw them away. Here are a few ideas for what you can do with ripe bananas:
- Banana bread: The classic recipe for ripe – and therefore very sweet – bananas is banana bread. Bianca Zapatka recently shared a recipe for a super delicious banana bread with us on Instagram:
- Shakes & Smoothies: Ripe bananas are also ideal for preparing fruit shakes and smoothies. They also offer an opportunity to use up other "old" fruit.
- Banana ice cream: Another option is to freeze the bananas in pieces and later make banana ice cream. To do this, put the frozen banana pieces in a blender with (plant-based) milk or yogurt and blend.
Recipes for stale bread
Leftover bread again? You can simply moisten slightly stale bread with a little water, toast it, and it will be almost as fresh as the day it was bought. If it's too late for that, you can also use stale bread like this:
- Breadcrumbs: Simply crush the old bread in a blender and store it in a dry place for the next use.
- Bread croutons: Stale bread can easily be turned into croutons. Simply cut them into small pieces, fry them in butter or olive oil in a pan, and use them to liven up salads or soups.
- Bread salad: Another way to use up leftover bread is to make bread salad. In addition to the bread, you can simply use any vegetables you have at home and also refine it with salad or nuts as desired.
Leftover rice
Leftover rice is easy to make. Here are a few ideas for what you can prepare with cooked rice:
- Rice stir-fry with vegetables: Since the main ingredient is already pre-cooked, it's even quicker. And if you also use leftover vegetables, you'll kill two birds with one stone.
- Build-Your-Bowl: When preparing bowls, your creativity knows no bounds. Pre-cooked rice can serve as an ideal base. What else you put in your bowl is entirely up to you and what's in your refrigerator.
- Rice pudding: If you prefer something sweet, you can also make rice pudding from the leftover rice. Simply bring it to a boil in a pot with milk and a little sugar.
The refrigerator cooking trend: Cooking with what's on hand
Cooking with what's in the fridge. That's what fridge cooking is all about. Either you don't feel like going shopping anymore, you're going on vacation and want to empty the fridge, or you simply want to use up your existing supplies. The key is to get creative. If you can't think of anything to cook with the ingredients you have on hand, ingredient-based recipe search engines like Restegorumet can help.
Of course, there are many more ideas for what you can prepare with the ingredients mentioned here. And there are also many more ingredients that are often left over. Before you throw them away, consider how you might be able to use them to create a delicious dish. If there are leftovers after a meal or at a restaurant, save them. Leftovers can be very practical when you need a quick lunch or dinner.