Something from nothing - or recipes from food leftovers

Have you ever looked in the fridge and all you could find, apart from a light, was an onion and a piece of cheese? If so, just throw in some stale bread and you have delicious chops for dinner in minutes. Don't rub your eyes - it really is possible. Sometimes you can create something tasty, filling and surprisingly creative from seemingly nothing.

A creative approach to cooking can be a way to reduce food waste. Instead of throwing away seemingly unnecessary ingredients, you can treat them to a culinary challenge. Sometimes all it takes is a little ingenuity to turn leftovers into a wholesome meal.

Annually in Polish households approximately 3 million tonnes of food. This is a serious problem over which we have a real influence. A little imagination and taste can make this number smaller and smaller every year.

What can be made from leftover food?

Instead of going to the shop for more shopping, look in the fridge and think about what you can prepare with what you already have. Even with stale bread and a few simple additions, you can prepare a nutritious dish.

Cutlets from stale bread

Ingredients:

• 3-4 slices of stale bread (can also be a roll);
• 1 onion;
• a piece of yellow cheese (grated);
• 1 egg;
• 1-2 tablespoons of milk or water;
• herbs and spices: salt, pepper, marjoram, granulated garlic;
• oil for frying.

Preparation:

1. Soak the stale bread in milk or water for a few minutes until it softens.
2. Finely chop the onion and fry until golden.
3. Drain the soaked bread and transfer to a bowl. Add the onion, grated cheese, egg and seasoning.
4. Mix everything thoroughly - the mixture should be sticky but mouldable.
5. Form small cutlets and fry in hot oil on both sides until golden brown.

This is the first inspiration. However, it's not the end of recipes made from leftover food! You have in your fridge cooked potatoes from dinner and leftover vegetables? Make them into a frittata - a quick baked omelette that delights many.

Frittata of boiled potatoes and vegetables

Ingredients:

• 2-3 boiled potatoes (e.g. from yesterday's dinner);
• 1/2 peppers, 1/2 courgettes or other vegetables from the fridge;
• 3 eggs;
• a piece of grated cheese;
• seasonings: salt, pepper, herbs de Provence, sweet paprika.

Preparation:

1. Dice the potatoes and vegetables and fry lightly in a frying pan.
2. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, add the spices and grated cheese.
3. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, fry for a few minutes and then place the pan in the preheated oven (180°C) for 5-10 minutes until the frittata is cooked through.

If you are a fan of fruit and are wondering what to do with fruit peelings - we already answer. Instead of throwing them away, make them into a flavoursome homemade compote.

Fruit peel compote

Ingredients:

• apple, pear or other fruit peelings (around half a kilo);
• 1-2 tablespoons of sugar or honey;
• 1 l of water;
• Optional: cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest.

Preparation:

1. Wash all the peelings and put them in a pot.
2. Pour in water, add spices and cook for approx. 20 minutes.
3. Finally, sweeten to taste and strain.