vii #13: 7 common leftovers and how to revive them
Welcome back to vii, a weekly newsletter featuring an exploration into seven somethings. With Christmas only a couple of days away, I’m sharing inspiration on how to breathe new life into leftovers.
They say that two things in life are guaranteed - death and taxes. Whoever “they” are, I would suggest they add Christmas leftovers as another inevitable occurrence...
There’s something about catering for many more people than usual (something I touched upon in vii #2), combined with a couple of consecutive bank holidays, that results in a widespread fear of guests going hungry across the Christmas period. With that comes an abundance of leftovers.
Although eating Christmas dinner on repeat is something my mum actually loves to do, it’s only feasible once or twice before boredom sets in and usually leftover items span many more foods than from the main meal alone. Regardless of what you need to use up, here are some ideas on how best to revamp them during the post-Christmas hinterland.
LEFTOVER MEATY BITS
Whether it’s turkey, ham, stuffing or pigs in blankets you have left to use up… here are some ideas for you. Gizzi’s leftovers pie is an annual staple in my household.
Gizzi Erskine’s leftover turkey, ham and leek pie
Anna Frazer’s flat Christmas pie
Turkey ramen, with lots of variations from Cassie Best, Adam Bush, Lulu Grimes or Helena Busiakiewicz
Sandwiches or similar, such as leftovers tacos, an epic Christmas toastie, Eleanor Wilkinson’s turkey, brie and cranberry croissant or Annie Mae Herring’s coronation turkey sandwich
Annie Mae Herring’s loaded Boxing Day nachos
Barney Desmazery’s black bean turkey tinga with avocado crema
BBC Good Food’s turkey larb bowls
Emma Waddell’s peanut noodles with turkey and leftover veg
Emily Gussin’s Christmas leftovers gochujang rice bowl
Delicious magazine’s spicy turkey enchiladas
Jamie Oliver’s Boxing Day quesadillas
Delicious magazine’s turkey and white bean chilli
Anna Frazer’s Christmas dinner arancini
Nigella Lawson’s pea and ham hock soup
Delicious magazine’s ham hock terrine
Lasagne, such as Sophie Wyburd’s leftover ham and leek lasagne, Janine Ratcliffe’s ham, spinach and mozzarella lasagne or Jamie Oliver’s leftover lasagne
BBC Good Food’s Quiche Lorraine with leftover ham or Jamie Oliver’s Christmas quiche
Pigs in blankets or black pudding bubble and squeak with eggs and hollandaise
Pigs in blankets toad in the hole
Adam Bush’s pigs in blankets carbonara
Emily’s Cooking stuffing tacos
Emily Gussin’s stuffing and sage ravioli
Adam Byatt’s stuffing en croute
Olive magazine’s bread sauce and stuffing croquettes
Ed Smith’s sausage meat bùn cha
LEFTOVER VEGGIE BITS
With such an array of vegetables served with Christmas dinner, leftovers are likely. That said, leftover potatoes are an alien concept for me! Regardless of the veg you need to use up, hopefully there’s some inspiration ahead.
Bubble and squeak, like these recipes from Jamie Oliver or Olive Magazine
Paul Merrett’s dauphinoise potatoes
Olive magazine’s refried smashed roasties with green harissa and yoghurt
Adam Bush’s roast potato chaat
Delicious magazine’s potato frittata
Potato and stuffing hash or sprout and bacon hash with chilli fried eggs
Annie Rigg’s broccoli and cheese soup
Nigella Lawson’s pea and ham hock soup
Eleanor Wilkinson’s brown butter chestnut risotto
Rosie Birkett’s cauliflower cheese pithivier
Eleanor Wilkinson’s sausage and sprout cauliflower cheese
Esther Clark’s mustardy sausage and sprout gnocchi
Ben Lippett’s gruyère tart with shredded sprouts
Samuel Goldsmith’s Brussels sprout slaw
Delicious magazine’s parsnip and carrot dhal
Jamie Oliver’s leftover veg tarte tatin
LEFTOVER CHEESEY BITS
Cheeseboards to cater to all preferences are usually ready and waiting to be consumed after the big meal. There are often one or two types that aren’t as popular as the others and are in need of utilising in other ways during betwixtmas.
Elena Silcock’s cheeseboard macaroni cheese or cauliflower cheese
Miriam Nice’s quattro formaggi grilled cheese sandwich
Eleanor Wilkinson’s grape and brie crostini
Annie Rigg’s broccoli and cheese soup
Eleanor Wilkinson’s cheese fondue (with leftover potatoes, pigs in blankets, veg, grapes, bread for dipping)
Jane Hornby’s cheeseboard and onion tart
Jamie Oliver’s Boxing Day quesadillas
LEFTOVER SAUCY BITS
Whether it’s gravy, bread sauce and cranberry sauce leftover from the main meal, or custard, cream and brandy butter from the desserts, you won’t want them to go to waste. Here are some ways to breathe new life into the leftover sauces.
Olive magazine’s bread sauce and stuffing croquettes
Emily Gussin’s bread sauce rolls
Emily Gussin’s Christmas leftovers stew with bread sauce dumplings
Jamie Oliver’s Boxing Day quesadillas
Cranberry cocktails such as this cranberry sauce mojito or cranberry sauce cosmo
Sophie Bamford’s brandy butter truffles
LEFTOVER SWEET BITS
I don’t necessarily need to reinvent the leftover puds to enjoy them in the days after Christmas but if you fancy enjoying them in a slightly different format, then you can reimagine your panettone, Christmas pudding, gingerbread houses and selection boxes into new and delicious treats.
Nigella Lawson’s panettone French toast
Spencer Lengsfield’s panettone pistachio bread pudding
Annie Mae Herring’s panettone tiramisu bread and butter pudding
Ravneet Gill’s limoncello panettone cake
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas pudding sundae
Adam Bush’s Christmas pudding ice cream
Tom Shingler’s mince pie ice cream sandwiches
Eleanor Wilkinson’s mincemeat bread and butter pudding
Annie Mae Herring’s mincemeat flapjacks
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas cake trifle
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas strudel
Annie Mae Herring’s Lindor truffle chocolate fondants
Sophie Bamford’s gingerbread and almond chocolate salami
LEFTOVER BREAKFAST BITS
Christmas breakfast varies vastly from household to household. Whether you start the day with warm croissants, with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or perhaps even the chocolate orange from your stocking, any spare breakfast bits can enjoy a new lease of life.
Tieghan Gerard’s cream cheese croissant French toast bake
Eleanor Wilkinson’s turkey, brie and cranberry croissant
Eleanor Wilkinson’s breakfast paratha with cranberry glazed bacon
Delicious magazine’s smoked salmon rösti
Emily Gussin’s stuffing and sage ravioli
BBC Good Food’s Quiche Lorraine or Jamie Oliver’s Christmas quiche
LEFTOVER DRINKS BITS
The wine might be flowing at Christmas but sometimes leftovers come in liquid form as well as solid.
Sophie Bamford’s mulled wine pate de fruit
Pete Biggs’ strawberry and champagne sorbet
Mark Hix’s sparkling wine and raspberry jelly
Francesca Zani’s eggnog truffles
I haven’t made even a fraction of the recipes shared in this post so if you try one that you’d recommend, let us all know in my subscriber chat!
And with that, my final Christmas newsletter comes to an end and it’s time for me to wish you a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. I hope that you enjoy the time together and that any edible items knocking around following the festivities are reimagined into something new and delicious.
Newsletters grow every time someone reads, likes, comments, shares and subscribes! If you’ve enjoyed reading this or other editions, please like, subscribe or—better yet—share it with someone you think may also enjoy it.
This is gold!! Love all the inspo packed in here.