Leftovers

Leftover Roast Chicken & Roast Meat Ideas

5 chef ideas, 5 ways each

Half a roast chicken or a few slices of lamb in the fridge? That's tomorrow's dinner, not a sad sandwich. These are the 5 roast ideas from my leftovers book, from the carcass to the last shreds, each with 5 variations.

By Chef Aurélie, professional chef

1 Carcass Stock & Soup

A roast chicken carcass, or the bones of a raw chicken you cut up yourself: an onion, a carrot and a few lazy hours make a golden stock. The last of the meat goes back into the soup.

Make it your way:

Chicken & sweetcorn: Creamed corn, ginger, egg ribbons EGG
Thai red chicken: Red curry paste, coconut milk, bok choy, sliced red capsicum CRUSTACEAN
Chicken & vegetable: Diced carrot, celery, potato, peas
Ramen-style: Soy, ginger, noodles, a soft egg SOY WHEAT EGG
Chicken & rice: A handful of rice, lemon, parsley

Full recipe in Book 3

2 Quesadillas

Leftover roast chicken and melting cheese in a crisp tortilla, cut into wedges: the fastest leftover dinner there is.

Make it your way:

Quesa-pizza: Open: tortilla flat in the pan, toppings on top; lid on if thick, so the cheese melts
Mushroom: Sautéed mushrooms, garlic, oregano; grated cotija (or feta)
Black bean & corn: Mashed black beans, corn, chipotle
Pulled pork: Leftover pork, barbecue sauce, pickled onion SULPHITES
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and bacon EGG

Full recipe in Book 3

3 Creamy Chicken & Mushroom

Leftover roast chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce, the French bistro way. Spoon it into puff pastry cases and it's a vol-au-vent.

Make it your way:

Vol-au-vent: Spooned into warm puff pastry cases
Pot pie: In a dish under a puff pastry lid; 25 min at 200 °C
Crêpes: Rolled in crêpes, cheese on top, grilled EGG
Pasta: Tossed with tagliatelle and parmesan EGG
Jacket potato: Spooned over a baked potato

Full recipe in Book 3

4 Pulled Leftover Roast

Leftover roast pork, beef or chicken, shredded and simmered in a quick barbecue sauce until sticky. Pile it into buns, tacos or wraps.

Make it your way:

Bao buns: Hoisin instead of barbecue sauce; steamed bao SOY WHEAT
Sliders: Small soft buns, coleslaw WHEAT EGG
Tacos: Corn tortillas, chipotle, pickled onion
Loaded fries: On fries, with cheese sauce and jalapeños MILK
Toasted wraps: Wrapped with cheese and slaw, toasted WHEAT MILK

Full recipe in Book 3

5 Leftover Roast Ragù

Leftover roast beef or lamb, chopped and simmered slowly with tomato and red wine until it falls apart into a rich ragù. Sunday's roast, Tuesday's pasta.

Make it your way:

Pappardelle: Tossed with wide egg pasta WHEAT EGG
Lasagne: Layered with sheets, white sauce and cheese MILK
Stuffed capsicums: Ragù and rice in halved capsicums, cheese; 30 min
Shepherd's-style pie: Under leftover mash; 25 min at 200 °C MILK
Gnocchi bake: With gnocchi (recipe 9) and mozzarella; 15 min

Full recipe in Book 3