Notes about Recipes in this book

• Any vegetable sabzi

  • jenmacgregor18 on August 13, 2023

    This was so flavorful, I wanted seconds. And another great way to use up veggies. I subbed paprika for the chile powder and added a bit of cayenne. I used leftover potatoes, cauliflower, and green peas.

• Any vegetable salad

  • jenmacgregor18 on July 21, 2023

    Easy, excellent, and a fantastic use of leftover veg. I used potatoes and carrots that were languishing in the fridge. And parsley, green onion, and some beet greens that were almost past due. Swapped pumpkin seeds for the almonds. This is so adaptable to whatever you have on hand. I'm excited to find a great way of using things up before they go to waste.

  • jenmacgregor18 on July 21, 2023

    Other ingredients not listed: onion or shallot, salt, Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup greens, squeeze of lemon.

• Bean sprout banchan

  • rachael_h0nzkk on May 27, 2026

    I’ve had better not very flavorful

  • rachael_h0nzkk on May 27, 2026

    I’ve had better

• Cabbage farro salad

  • eclairea on April 19, 2026

    What a great, delicious way to use up all the ingredients listed! Only had uncooked cabbage so I sliced up a bunch, tossed it with olive oil, S&P, and stuck it under the broiler for 7 mins. Perfection. I really enjoyed the flavours and textures in this super quick salad and would make it again.

• Carrot top pesto

  • niels.volkmann on May 28, 2025

    **** Use pestle and mortar

• Greener greens and beans

  • paisleymonsoon on March 12, 2024

    Lovely flavor

• Peperonata

  • patioweather on June 30, 2024

    I bought a pound of sweet peppers, and there were about twenty in the bag. If I were to follow this recipe, I would cook 10 onions. Clearly, and Adler would agree, that instead you should let your heart tell you how much onion to use.

• Banana bread or muffins

  • lean1 on May 03, 2024

    Great recipe. Made it with bananas that were REALLY over ripe. Mix all in the food processor. Really quick. Used 4 tbsp butter and 4 tbsp of yogurt to cut fat calories. Didn't notice a difference in taste. And added 1/2 cup frozen blueberries.

• Salmorejo

  • lean1 on September 23, 2023

    used inside of the tomatoes. I was making stuffed roasted tomatoes 4 which didn't use the tomatoes insides and seed and didn't know what to do with them. Made it into soup. Make 1/2 of recipe. Used challah bread and good olive oil came out very smooth in the blender. Blended very well. Did it in stages. Will make this again.

• Bread salad

  • lean1 on April 23, 2023

    Made this with stale focaccia. Added celery, dried tomatoes, salad greens and radishes. Cleaned out the veggie bin. Used leftover lemon/olive oil dressing. Perfect!

• Fried beans and rice

  • LouiseQuasiChef on September 03, 2023

    This is Tamar's brilliance -- in a simple technique for repurposing leftover rice and beans, snapped up with spicy mayo, salted diced cucumbers, and quick pickled onions. Beans redux taste novel and delicious! Thrifty too!

• Inauthentic tomato dal

  • paisleymonsoon on September 18, 2023

    This recipe is worth the cost of the book. I've made this twice, always with great results. Every time, I've wished I'd made more. It's a flavor revelation. I've omitted the asafoetida and fenugreek leaves for lack of them, but don't miss adding cilantro!

• Refried bean ribollita

  • lean1 on April 23, 2026

    Perfect way to use up old bread half a can of refried beans and wilting spinach. I used sage from the garden, parsley from the store and omitted the Parmesan rind. I did add a cup of leftover roasted chicken for the last few minutes of cooking time. Very tasty. Close to the dish I had in Italy.

• French onion soup panade

  • ndschmidt on April 02, 2026

    First off, this book is an amazing resource. I pride myself on being a wizard with leftovers, but Tamar is next level. We had a quart of French onion soup in the freezer from a few months ago and half a baguette so, rather than just having straight up soup, we made this panade and it was great! Kind of a savory bread pudding. Very hearty and satisfying. Would definitely make again.

• Teaism soup

  • peacheater on March 16, 2026

    Make this pretty often - an easy recipe for leftovers - if you have the instant miso packets. This time I used leftover chicken, some roasted tomatoes and garlic, crispy shallots, flavored with soy sauce, chilli crisp.

• Ad hoc chicken tikka masala

  • lean1 on April 23, 2026

    Did not have all the herbs and spices. Just tumeric and garam masala. Fresh tomatoes chopped in mini Cuisinart and milk instead of cream. For me it was still pretty spicy. I might leave out the chopped chili next time.

• Hot dog salad

  • eclairea on February 14, 2025

    So good for leftover hot dogs! But if leftover hot dogs are not a thing, just make this. Love it!

• Pesto scones

  • lean1 on May 10, 2023

    perfect recipe for quick scones. I used lower fat Cabot cheddar, home made ramp pesto and non fat milk to lower the fat content. It was so delicious. Lots of onion flavor from the ramps. Bakes in 20 min. I made them a bit smaller so I got 14 out of the dough. Great for using leftover pesto. May try it with Sun dried tomato pesto next time!

  • jenmacgregor18 on August 19, 2023

    Great texture. crisp exterior and delicate crumb. I only used 1/4 cup and you could really taste the pesto. I wouldn't bother using sharp cheddar cheese. I did and you can't taste it at all. I would just use any decent melting cheddar or jack cheese. I like lean1's idea of adding some onion components.

  • paisleymonsoon on April 17, 2024

    These were tasty. I used Rao's Pesto, but I think I would go cheaper next time. The method of turning it into a rectangle and slicing it like biscotti was a bit of an overkill. I'd just drop it like biscuits if I made it again. I think even more pesto would have made it better or maybe some added garlic.

• Vogue

  ...inventive and surprisingly practical recipes that incorporate everything from stale donuts to next-day burritos to that little bit of dust left at the bottom of a bag of nuts. Plus interview.

  Full review

• Nigella by Nigella Lawson

  It speaks to the very heart of those of us who live for leftovers, hate waste, and find inspiration in what I can only call free association with ingredients.

  Full review