Store Cupboard Recipes: 4 Things to Make with Leftover Salad

How’s everyone getting on? It’s pretty boring, this lockdown stuff. I’ve resorted to playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, listening to rewatch podcasts (Office Ladies and Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald if you’re interested) and exercising – FOR FUN. Ew.

But it’s important that we keep plodding along for our own protection and the protection of everyone around us, so well done for doing your bit! While we’re all still pining after our favourite food, I’ve found that coming up with new meal ideas a welcome challenge to distract me from constant daydreams about Nandos and Pizza Express.

I know salad isn’t exactly a “store cupboard” food but, in our house, it’s ALWAYS leftover – I guess that’s what happens when you ignore it and eat pizza instead. Who knew?! And I know we’re not alone, so here are a few ideas for using up that wilting bag of salad leaves before it dies a sad, lonely death in the bottom of the vegetable draw.

IMG_0290

1. Lemon ‘n’ lime salad

This is my favourite go-to salad because it’s super easy, really refreshing (perfect for the hot weather we’re having!) and full of flavour. If you don’t have fresh lemon and limes – I literally NEVER do – then bottled lemon and lime juice is something I’d definitely recommend picking up; seriously, so handy. I also find having various nuts and seeds in the cupboard (sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, cashews – whatever you like and whatever is in your budget) is really useful, especially for dishes like this.

Believe me, those limp lettuce leaves will come ALIVE with this recipe! Empty your leftover salad into a large bowl (along with any other salad ingredients – tomato, cucumber, red onion, grated carrot, etc.) and add a few drops of lemon and lime juice (I prefer more lime than lemon, but each to their own) and season with a pinch of garlic powder, salt, pepper and a teeny drizzle of oil. I also like to throw in pine nuts and sesame seeds, and I have a little shaker of fake parmesan “hard cheese” that I like to use for a delicious savoury flavour. I can find everything here in my kitchen 99% of the time, and they can all be swapped for whatever you have at home.

2. Burrito bowl

I’m seriously missing burritos right now, you guys. No Mexican restaurants are open for delivery near us, the supermarkets have v. limited veggie options and whenever I make burritos at home I always overfill them and they split (me? greedy? never!).  So, right now, a burrito bowl is the closest thing – and they’re awesome! 

Burrito bowls are perfect because you can make them using fairly basic ingredients, swapping most of them out for something else if you prefer. All you need to do is layer a bowl with rice and salad, throw some peppers and onions (with paprika, chilli flakes, salt and pepper) on top with a spoonful of beans – I like black beans or mixed taco beans, but you can spice anything up with garlic and paprika – and finish off with a little cheese, salsa and sour cream. Throw in plenty of spices along the way and you can’t go wrong!

IMG_0291

3. Club sandwich

Lunch is something I’ve reeeally struggled with during lockdown – without my Boots meal deal, I’m lost. Trying to make something exciting to look forward to every day (because let’s face it, even from home the best part of the work day is lunchtime) has been hard for me. I’ve fallen back on a pot of Super Noodles more than once these last few weeks, let me tell you!

Club sandwiches are probably the closest to a pub garden lunch we’ll get for a while, and it’s a really good way to use up some of those random fridge ingredients in one big wedge of sandwich-y goodness. Take a few slices of bread, layered up with your choice of main filling – chicken, turkey, or maybe mushrooms or marinated tofu – and then stuff in your salad along with any optional extras like avocado and tomato, perhaps a little mayonnaise or mustard, add in some egg or cheese if you feel like it, and you’ve got a great lunch! Don’t forget that extra slice of bread in the middle to make it a true club sandwich…

4. Mixed bean salad

I’m aware that a mixed bean salad probably sounds like the most boring thing in the world right now and, well, I won’t lie to you – you’re not wrong. It won’t light fireworks, but it’s a healthy, colourful plate, quick to put together and really good way to use up lots of different ingredients. And sometimes, in the middle of a pandemic, that’s all you need.

You can either grab a few different tins of beans yourself, or find a ready-made tin of mixed beans if you can’t be bothered to pick and choose (like me!). All you need to do  is heat them up, season with paprika, garlic, chilli flakes, salt and pepper, and toss them together with your leftover salad ingredients and BAM – you’ve done it! Tuck into this for a quick lunch, or perhaps serve up on the side of chicken or with a garlic flatbread to make more of a meal out of it. Perfect for a lazy summer evening!

IMG_0186

Advertisement

RECIPE: Chicken Salad Wraps With Smashed Avocado | #ThisGirlEats

Serves: 2
How much does it cost? This recipe cost me less than £1 per person.
What are the benefits? These wraps provide at least one of your five a day, as well as being high in fibre and vitamins from the avocado.


Guacamole is a b-e-a-utiful thing, but it can be tricky to create an absolutely perfect version of the quintessential Mexican dip. However, no fear; there is a shortcut – smashed avocado. It’s creamier than just chunks of avocado but not as much effort as full-on guac, which is the perfect middle ground for me. 🥑

This wrap is a great packed lunch idea because it’s so quick and easy to put together with only a few ingredients. If you wanted to make it more adventurous you could always adapt; add some sauce, onions and peppers, perhaps some bacon… I’ve kept things simple here, but that doesn’t mean you have to!

If you’re after feel-good food, look no further. Avocado is bursting with “good” fats and, along with the salad, this little wrap packs in a hell of a lot of healthy greens! Chicken provides the lean protein, and will leave you feeling full without being bloated on fatty, greasy meat.  Perfect!

feelgood
giphy.com

INGREDIENTS
1 Chicken Breast
1/2 Bag of Prepared Mixed Salad
1/2 Avocado 
4 Cherry Tomatoes, Quartered
2 Tortilla Wraps

SEASONING
For the chicken, simply season with a touch of dried garlic, salt, pepper and a little olive oil. If possible, the smashed avocado could do with a dash of lime juice, coriander and chilli flakes to give it more of a “guacamole” taste, but if you can’t get your hands on them it’s not the end of the world – a sprinkle of salt and pepper will do.


So, this is how I did it…

1. Season the chicken and pop in the oven for 20 – 30 minutes (depending on size) on 200°C.

2. Remove the avocado half from its skin and, along with the chopped cherry tomatoes in a bowl, smush together with a fork until you’ve created a chunky paste.

3. Grab some tortilla wraps and lay out the mixed salad. Remove the chicken from the oven, slice, and arrange on top of the salad leaves. Spread a dollop of smashed avocado alongside.

4. Wrap and enjoy there and then, or pack for lunch the next day! 🌯

irVN8jG2Ql+cCon3l6QpPw

RECIPE: Crispy Ham & Roasted Parmesan Potato Salad | #ThisGirlEats

Serves: 2
How much does it cost? This cost me less than £1 per person.
What are the benefits? This recipe is very high in antioxidants, provides at least one of your five a day, and both the cous cous and salad are, surprisingly, excellent sources of fibre.


Growing up, ham salad was one of my most dreaded dinners. When I got home from school, asked mum what was for tea and that was her answer, turning my nose up was almost instinctual. I’d ask if I could make myself something else just so I didn’t have to face a plate of cold ham, plain boiled potatoes and a few lettuce leaves. It did NOT appeal to me!

But as an adult, I now totally appreciate the benefits of this meal!

It’s really cheap – like living on a shoestring kinda cheap – it’s healthy, and you can throw it together in a matter of minutes.

So, I’ve taken this idea and turned it into something perhaps more inspiring, with the ham cooked until it’s warm, salty and crispy, the potatoes roasted with a parmesan crumb and the salad vibrant, full of colours and textures. It’s still a low cost, healthy dish but with a little more pizzazz.

razzle
gfycat.com

INGREDIENTS
4 – 8 (depending on size) Slices of Wafer Thin Ham, Sliced
1 Baking Potato, Cubed
Sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese 
1 Bag of Prepared Salad Leaves
8 Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
1/4 Carrot

SEASONING
As I’ve mentioned, it’s really important to me to make sure this recipe is full of flavour. The potatoes, as well as shavings of parmesan, should be coated in a teeny tiny dash of olive oil and a generous helping of salt, black pepper, dried rosemary and garlic flakes. The ham, even though already a salty meat, needs a touch more salt added whilst frying to give it that real bacon flavour, as well as some black pepper and dried thyme.


So, this is how I did it…

1. Chop the potato up into small cube shapes (or as close as you can get!). Place them in a roasting tray, coat with cooking spray and seasoning, sprinkle over some parmesan cheese and pop them into the oven on 200°C for about 30 minutes.

2. Slice the ham into strips or ribbons, place in a hot pan with the tiniest dash of olive oil, with a dash of salt and pepper, and cook on a pretty high heat for 10 minutes or so. The ham will cook incredibly quick but don’t be scared! We want it to get really crispy, almost to resemble bacon.

3. To get the salad together, slice the cherry tomatoes in half. Use a potato peeler to shred super thin slices to add raw carrot to the salad. Toss them in with the salad leaves.

4. Remove the potatoes from the oven and the ham from the frying pan, place on top of the salad mix and enjoy!

salad plate

RECIPE: Grilled Halloumi and Roasted Red Pepper Cous Cous Salad | #ThisGirlEats

Serves: 2
How much does it cost? This cost me less than £1.50 per person.
What are the benefits? Cous cous is a good source of plant-based protein making this recipe completely vegetarian-friendly, and it provides at least one of your five a day.


Halloumi is deeeeee-licious, but it’s such a distinct taste and texture that you can’t just throw it into any old thing and expect it to work. It needs a bit of thought, this one.

But, accompanied with sweet, charred roasted red peppers, gently spiced cous cous and mellow salad leaves, halloumi is the perfect ingredient.

This salad is really easy to make, with most aspects of the dish taking just minutes to put together. It’s healthy too, bursting with colour, flavour and nutrition – enough of everything to keep you satisfied!

I managed to get the ingredients together for this one for around £1.48 per person (damn, halloumi can be kind of expensive…). It’s a quick, simple veggie meal, full of leafy greens and gorgeous colours – what more could you want?!

green
giphy.com

INGREDIENTS
Block of Halloumi Cheese, Sliced
1 Red Bell Pepper
Bag of Prepared Salad Leaves
1 Packet of Flavoured Cous Cous

SEASONING
I didn’t really add too much to this recipe, because I think the flavours really burst on their own. I seasoned the bell pepper with salt and ground black pepper before roasting, but that’s about it!


So, this is how I did it…

1. Heat the oven to around 220°C – you want it hot, hot, hot – and add the pepper, cut into quarters with stalk and seeds removed, to a tray, skin-side up. Coat with cooking spray and roast for 25 minutes.

2. Remove from the oven, swap over to the grill and slide the slices of halloumi underneath, grilling for 2-3 minutes each side (or until the cheese is a gorgeous golden brown).

3. While the halloumi grills, add some boiling water to your cous cous and cook according to packet instructions (usually only a couple of minutes).

4. Your salad leaves can go straight from the packet into a bowl, topped with the charred roasted red peppers, gooey halloumi cheese and tasty cous cous. Enjoy!

halloumi 2

RECIPE: Bacon, Pepper and Avocado Salad | #ThisGirlEats

Serves: 2
How much does it cost? This cost me less than £1 per person
What are the benefits? This recipe is low in carbs, low in sugar and mounts up to 2 portions of your 5 a day


I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really been a big salad person. I suppose it really depends on what else you put in with it, because I can’t imagine anyone loving just a few limp lettuce leaves!

salad2
giphy.com

So I’ve created one that’s brilliant for me and works with the things I love to eat, as well as still being quite healthy – who knows, it could be perfect for you too!

It’s a great low-carb lunch option, if that’s what you’re after. Not to mention, it also contributes to your five a day, and avocado is full of healthy fats to help keep you full all day long. 


INGREDIENTS
4 Slices of Back Bacon, Chopped
1 Avocado, Peeled, Stone Removed and Chopped
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, Sliced 
Half a Bag of Pre-Prepared Salad

SEASONING
There wasn’t too much seasoning involved in this one, just some black pepper and garlic added to the frying pan last-minute. You don’t even need salt as the bacon does that for you, but you could add some salad dressing for extra flavour if you wish.


So, this is how I did it…

1. Firstly, spray a frying pan with cooking spray or a small drop of oil and allowed it to heat up before chucking in the chopped bacon and cooking for roughly 10 minutes, until the bacon is all lovely and crispy.

2. Add the peppers to the pan after about 5 minutes of cooking the bacon, just enough so they aren’t raw but still have a crunch, and cook for about 5 minutes.

3. The chunks of avocado go into the pan for the last minute or so of cooking – this is optional, but I prefer my avocado to be warm here, so I cooked it for just enough time to simply warm it through. At this point, also add some black pepper and dried garlic to the pan for flavour.

4. Take the ingredients from the pan and add to a bowl of salad, stir it all through and you’re done!


Tips & Tricks

  • You know what else would go great with this? Halloumi, of course. It’s great with everything, and could turn this into a veggie-friendly salad.

 

  • If you’re feeling adventurous, you don’t have to buy a pre-packaged salad – that’s just laziness on my part! Make your own up and create the absolutely perfect dish for you.

 

  • It makes a great lunch, but you could also shrink this down to a small side salad or bulk it up for a full dinner meal. The choice is yours!

Dirty Burgers on a Healthy Diet (& a Healthy Budget!) | #ThisGirlEats

I love a burger. Who doesn’t?! Tucking into a greasy one from the local chippy after one too many drinks, spilling ketchup down myself and eradicating any ounce of class I left the house with several hours earlier. It’s a beautiful thing.

Last week we needed to use up some mince at home and also found some mega-cheap rolls in the shining light of a late-night supermarket shop, the reduced aisle. They’re super easy too so I thought, bugger it, why not?

But then I hit a bump in the road – I couldn’t really imagine having a big, juicy beef burger without an equally gorgeous side – golden chips, spicy wedges, crispy fries, etc. And that would take our dinner from being only “slightly cheeky” to “one big fat whopper of a meal” and I really wanted to avoid that.

Then BAM. It hit me! A salad – so simple, so obvious – but with the scrummy addition of some chunky roasted vegetables. Big on veg, big on flavour! Hurrah.

And then I thought, well, in for a penny in for a pound – why not load up the burger as well?! Topped with tomato, cheese, avocado, onion and mushroom, I created some serious towers on a plate and, in the end, it looked like one of the dirtiest burgers imaginable. But it was all a lie! A lie loaded mostly with vegetables and surrounded by salad. Brilliant!

IMG_2780
Home made beef burgers with roasted vegetable salad

I mean, honestly. How good does that look?! It’s making me hungry…

You can check out my recipe for homemade beef burgers here.