It’s hard to conjure up an image of royalty dealing with leftovers from their feast, with King Charles and Queen Camilla savoring their leftover roast for lunch the next day. After all, royals have a reputation for the opposite of thriftiness. However, the reality might surprise many, as the current King is ardent about reducing food wastage. “The King detests waste”, unveiled Tom Parker Bowles, renowned author and son of the Queen. “Dinner leftovers get repurposed or enjoyed the next day. Nothing is wasted.”
This royal dining protocol reveals the King’s devotion to sustainability. Also, it challenges our daily habits of scraping the last bit of uneaten veggies or mashed potato into the bin, not perceiving it as damaging to the planet or dumping the leftover takeaway curry for lack of any idea for its utility.
Unfortunately, food wasted annually in the UK in 2022 was at 4.7 million tonnes, according to WRAP, the anti-waste charity. A significant 27% chunk of the waste was fresh vegetables and salads while pre-prepared and homemade meals amounted to a staggering 12%, translating to around 540,000 tonnes. Essentially, cooked meals left unconsumed in one go, like stews, pasta, soups, sandwiches and curries, got tossed. According to WRAP, about a quarter of the waste results from our habit of cooking or serving more than required.
Leftovers can be a boon with some clever use, as they can assist with meal planning, save time and money, and also reduce environmental harm. They can be more flavorful, too as they’ve had time to develop their taste. This mutual relationship between leftovers and the environment proves that “food wasted can cost a household of four an average of £1,000 a year,” as Dr Sam Hubble from WRAP points out. “To make sure leftovers are safe, refrigerate them and finish quickly.”
Transforming our leftover cooked broccoli florets or the chunk of pasta into delicious and easy-to-make recipes fits well within the agenda. In addition, several innovative ideas for using up these leftovers can impress even royalty.
Cooked veggies can easily be repurposed into delicious soups by blending them in a blender and simmering them on the stove. For a pesto-like sauce, just add less stock along with fresh herbs or a bit of chili or curry paste.
Past pastries like croissants can be turned into a sweet treat with a bit of ingenious repurposing. Simply slice a day-old croissant into thin rounds and spread caster sugar over them before baking. They can then be served with ice cream or sandwiched with some mascarpone.
In some cases, simple dishes can be revamped with a bit of twist. A stale piece of pizza can be rejuvenated with a topping of grated cheese and a quick trip to the grill or can be fashioned into a pizza toastie. Leftover curry can be made into a soup with the addition of hot vegetable or chicken stock and some cooked noodles.
Spiking up leftover Yorkshire pudding with a topping of baked beans or scrambled eggs can create a savory meal. If you have a sweet tooth, serve the pudding with syrup and ice cream. Leftover mashed potato can be turned into a standard, nourishing side dish by heating it with some gravy.
Leftovers can also be mixed into a batter for pancakes, or you can make mini-frittatas with mixed leftovers. This is an excellent, easy and delicious way to repurpose various types of leftovers, including veg, meat, pasta, or reheated rice.
By exploiting these methods, we can make the most out of our food and contribute to reducing food waste, taking a leaf out of the noble practices of the King’s household.
