You know when you're finishing up your meal, and there's that hesitation? Is that enough to merit a doggie bag? I say, if you can use it as a basis or filler for a new meal, go for it. Think of it like a secret ingredient for your inner-Iron Chef.
Here are four next-day meal suggestions, along with the dishes that preceded them:
Leftover Steak?
From last night's filet mignon (over half eaten), I sliced thinly, seared and laid over a salad of greens, grape tomatoes, red onions and dijon vinaigrette. Yay, steak salad makes a decadent and healthy lunch.
Takeout Rice?
My father's recipe for fried rice is to simply coat that leftover Chinese restaurant rice in a skillet of vegetable or olive oil that a couple smashed cloves of garlic has been frying in. Finish it with that random soy sauce pouch sitting in your drawer and some scallion.
Bouillabasse?
I once got this amazing
bouillabasse from Fada. With more than a fair share to take home, I asked to pack my own doggie bag so I could keep the broth separate from the fish/shellfish. This allowed me to make a wonderful seafood risotto the next day, much like
this one from Martha but with a killer, amazing homemade broth.
Roasted Half-Eaten Chicken?
And with roasted chicken, which never tastes good nuked the next morning, consider
shredding it while it's still somewhat warm (like when you get home and barring too many glasses of wine), and mix it with equal parts ranch (or creamy Caesar dressing) and plain yogurt. With that you can throw it on a salad, in a pita, or on toasted sliced baguettes or celery stalks. If that's too unrefined,
Martha has a great
shredded Asian rotisserie chicken salad and you can substitute the grilled chicken cubes in
Chicken Salad Veronique courtesy of
Barefoot Contessa.
Do you have your own leftover triumphs and suggestions to share? Please post!
