Leftover vegetables

Leftover vegetables

Inspiration, ideas, and tips for using leftovers!

Get ready to explore the many facets of using leftover vegetables. Yes, we are talking about that half of a courgette sitting in the fridge, the handful of wilting spinach, or the small portion of boiled peas that usually get tossed away. Re-using these leftovers for something new is a way to prevent food waste but it is also an ingenious way for you to get creative and try something new in the kitchen! 

Keep reading to find out more about what to do with leftover vegetables and how to turn these into delicious, new meals, reduce food waste in the process, and learn how to store them correctly so they keep longer. 

Discover the world of leftover vegetables – both raw and cooked

Many of us are accustomed to cooking with fresh ingredients, but in truth, leftover greens offer just as many possibilities. Whether you have raw leftovers you did not use for another dish or cooked vegetables from last night’s meal, there are countless ways for you to repurpose them. 

Leftover raw vegetables might range from crisp and colourful to slightly wilted or softened. But you can still use them in various dishes even if they do not seem completely fresh! If they lost a bit of their crunch, no need to worry! Use them roasted in salads or in juices and smoothies or transform them into soups, tray bakes, or casseroles. 

Cooked leftover vegetables are rich in flavours from the initial cooking process. They might be roasted, baked, or only lightly cooked, retaining some of their crispiness. They are easy to blend into soups or use in stews, stir-fries, or casseroles, lending their distinct flavours and aromas to the dishes without needing much cooking time. This can be a real time-saver during busy weeknight meals. But keep in mind the cooking time – you do not need to worry about overcooking them if you remember to think about their initial texture and how you choose to use them. 

So, before you decide to toss those leftovers, consider the many dishes you can make with them. With a little bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can turn these forgotten ingredients into tasty, wholesome meals. 

Top ideas for turning leftover vegetables into new meals

By now we hope you know that you can easily make the most of your leftover vegetables. Below, you can read our top ideas on making new, mouth-watering meals with your leftovers! Keep reading to get to know more about how to make delicious dishes with eggs and rice, create kid-friendly means, and make warm, hearty soups with what is left of raw or cooked vegetables. 

Top ideas for turning leftover vegetables into new meals

Eggs with leftover vegetables

Combining leftover vegetables with eggs is an excellent way to create delicious meals. Whether the vegetables are cooked or uncooked, eggs breathe new life into a multitude of dishes, including frittatas, omelettes, quiches, and stir-fries as well as fritters and scrambles. 

If you have surplus potatoes, consider making hash browns or a traditional hash served with a fried egg on the side. Asian-inspired dishes such as stir-fries, Pad Thai, and egg-fried rice make for a tasty fusion of vegetables and eggs, too. Lastly, stuffed vegetables, like bell peppers filled with an egg mixture or topped with an egg, offer aesthetically pleasing meals suitable for various occasions. 

Eggs with leftover vegetables

Savoury leftover vegetables and rice dishes

You can also make some delicious rice dishes with leftover vegetables. Rice casseroles are a great way to incorporate a wide array of greens into a creamy, flavourful dish. On a similar note, in terms of comfort food: risotto! It is a versatile rice-based dish that is delicious with either roasted or steamed veggies like broccoli or cauliflower or, the classic, mushrooms. 

You can also try rice bowls, which pair well with roasted, steamed, or grilled vegetables such as leftover spinach and green beans. Stuffed vegetables are another inventive approach, using large veggies like bell peppers or aubergines as vessels for rice and other leftovers. 

And straight from Asian cuisine, fried rice or stir-fry is a quick, easy solution as you can use everything from carrots to courgette. Remember, day-old rice, which is drier and firmer, is perfect for these dishes, soaking up the sauces and preventing a mushy consistency. 

Savoury leftover vegetables and rice dishes

Easy kid-friendly recipes with leftover vegetables

If you are trying to encourage your kids to eat more greens, you can do this in a fun and creative way with leftover vegetables! Transform pasta into a comforting meal by blending in leftover vegetables, creating wholesome pasta bakes and sautéed pasta dishes; let your kids unleash their creativity by letting them make their own pizzas with their favourite toppings as well as leftover vegetables; layer leftover vegetables in a classic lasagne; or explore Tex-Mex cuisine with a colourful assortment of greens in tacos or on cheesy nachos. With these tricks, you can use your leftover vegetables for easy, kid-friendly recipes, making mealtimes an enjoyable experience for your little ones. 

Easy kid-friendly recipes with leftover vegetables

Warm, hearty leftover vegetable soups

Making easy and scrumptious soups from leftover vegetables is a wonderful way to reduce food waste and enjoy warm, hearty meals. An array of options awaits, from the sweet and comforting notes of carrot soup to the subtle and delicate flavour of potato and leek soup. 

Use both raw and cooked leftovers, get creative and pair different vegetables together, and choose a soup base that enhances the vegetables’ natural goodness. There are so many ways to go about it, incorporating grains, legumes, proteins, spices, herbs, and much more to create a wholesome and heart-warming meal from leftovers. 

Warm, hearty leftover vegetable soups

Get the best of your leftover vegetables

Before diving into the culinary delights of cooking with leftover vegetables, it is essential to know more about them to get the most out of them. After all, making the most of leftover vegetables is not just about knowing how and for what to use them but also about knowing how to preserve their quality in terms of taste and texture. 

To make the most of your leftovers, we have a few simple tips for you: 

  • Store cooked vegetables in airtight containers in the fridge after fully cooling. 
  • Avoid leaving cooked vegetables at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent bacterial growth. 
  • Store raw vegetables separately either in perforated bags, loosely covered containers, or simply outside of bags to allow airflow and prevent spoilage. 
  • Properly stored, leftovers can last 3-5 days in the fridge or even longer if frozen. 

By following these guidelines, you prolong the life of your produce and continue to create exciting meals. Embracing the world of leftover vegetables opens endless culinary possibilities, reducing food waste, and encouraging creativity in the kitchen. To know more about it, check out our article ‘Get the most of leftover vegetables: Guide to storing and reducing waste’.