How to Make the Most of your Easter Leftovers: Savoury and Sweet Ideas to Repurpose your Excess Food this Easter

 

As the Easter festivities wind down, chances are you’ve found yourself with a fridge full of delicious leftovers from a family feast, and let’s not start on the cupboard stuffed with chocolate… at least not yet. Easter often features a wide variety of dishes, from roasted meats to lovely side dishes like scalloped potatoes, roasted veggies, and stuffed salads. The variety means there’s something for everyone, and the leftovers offer a mix of flavours and textures that are simply too good to go! They’re convenient, providing quick and easy meals without the need of excess cooking or preparation while we relax after the quick-pace of the Easter holidays. Plus, I consider the waste of such leftovers to be nothing short of criminal. So, let’s explore some creative and delicious ways to repurpose your Easter leftovers to be enjoyed in a whole new light. Easter leftover are super adaptable and lend well to many different dishes. From making the most of your remaining turkey and ham to giving your excess Easter eggs a new lease of life, here are some neat ideas to enjoy some post-celebration culinary treats and make sure we aren’t wasting a thing!

 

Get creative with sandwiches and wraps

To kick off our satisfying transformations, let’s talk about the star of the show: the meat. Meat, in my house, always seems to be the leftover that we have in bulk – which baffles me considering the amount dad consumes. Regardless of your poison – beef, chicken, turkey, ham, lamb – joints of meat are super versatile, and can be repurposed for many different meals. My personal favourite way to utilise these leftovers is the classic: sliced between two bits of buttered bread for a stuffed Easter sandwich. Best enjoyed with your favourite condiment and some leftover salad or vegetables for extra flavour. However, there are a load of other quick and clever ways to repurpose meat this Easter.

Consider dicing it for a lovely breakfast omelette, where you can even integrate some of your leftover veg if you fancy it. Alternatively, you can cut your meat into chucks and use them in a big pot of curry, ideal for large families. Similarly, you can whip up a quick pad Thai with a simple sauce and noodles, which you can toss the meat into afterwards for a filling and delicious meal.

 

Make a hearty soup or stew

A second leftover classic in my house - a hearty pot of soup or stew. I mean you can’t go wrong, can you? Easter leftovers are fantastic for repurposing as soup because your meal will have often consisted of a variety of ingredients that can come together to create a flavourful and satisfying broth. The abundance of cooked meats paired with various vegetables, such as carrots, peas, and potatoes, are guaranteed to blend well and incorporate easily for a delicious and cost-effective soup. Additionally, leftovers for events like Easter and Christmas tend to have been cooked with flavourful herbs and spices, adding a depth to the soup without the need for excess seasoning. Simply dice an onion and dry off with garlic before adding in your pre-cooked leftovers with stock, and blend once the ingredients have incorporated.

 

Whip up some homemade pizzas

One of my favourite easy-meals is a hassle-free homemade pizza. With a little tomato pure or chopped tomatoes and a bunch of leftovers you can transform any choice of pre-cooked base into a delicious and personalised homemade pizza. You can choose to create your pizza on a wide range of bases, which is really what makes this cooking hack so versatile. Opt for a tortilla (popular in my house), sliced bread, garlic bread, flatbreads, and my personal favourite – naan bread. When choosing a pre-cooked base, consider the thickness, flavour, and texture that you prefer. Some bases will be crisper, like a tortilla, while others might be softer and chewier. Having all these Easter leftovers makes this a good time to experiment with different bases to find your favourite! When it comes to toppings, the beauty of leftovers is that the world is your oyster. I tend to throw down a layer of tomato puree, throw a bit of everything at my disposal on with probably-too-much cheese, but I’ll leave that part up to you. Once you’ve went to town with toppings, throw it in the oven for around 10-15 minutes until the base has stiffened and the cheese has melted to a golden-burn.

 

Last but not least, Easter Chocolate!

We always have so much chocolate and so many sweet treats left after Easter, and up until a few years ago I was stuck on what to do with it all. However, in recent times I’ve made an effort to utilise the leftover piles of sugar and not just let them take up space in my cupboard! One method of using it all up has been a chocolate bark. Quick, simple, and likely something you’ve made some variation of before, a chocolate bark takes little time and really is a tasty and adaptable treat. Melt your chocolate in a pan on a low heat, stirring constantly. Once melted, you’ll want to spoon your chocolate onto a parchment lined baking tray and smooth it out with a spatula to make a consistent, even layer. Then, sprinkle whatever your heart desires on top. Last year, we opted for some salted pretzels and caramel drizzle, with a few white chocolate chips as well. This year we’re going to go for some honeycomb and, get this, peanuts – don’t judge! Once you’ve added your toppings, chill in the fridge until solid. For cutting, I would recommend you remove from the fridge beforehand and allow to adjust to room temperature. This should help with cutting neat slices with a sharp knife, though I have been known to simply snap it up in the past!

 

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All of that to say, don’t let your Easter leftovers go to waste! With a little creativity and imagination, you can transform them into new and exciting dishes that are, firstly, just as delicious as your original meal and, secondly, perhaps combinations that you had never tried before and never knew you loved! Whether you land on a huge platter of stuffed sandwiches, a satisfying soup, or some homemade pizzas to enjoy making and eating with the kids, there are endless ways to make the most of your Easter leftovers and enjoy them to the fullest! Happy cooking!