Crispy potato waffles
Transform your leftover potato salad or mash into an impressive and delicious savoury waffle. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or snack!
Transform your leftover potato salad or mash into an impressive and delicious savoury waffle. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or snack!
Malfatti, meaning "badly made," are simple, misshapen, and delicious—no need for perfection here! Try these easy, cheesy Italian dumplings that is somewhere between gnocchi and ravioli.
Italian-style breadcrumbs, flavoured with herbs, garlic and lemon zest. Use generously to add a dash of texture and a pop of flavour to anything from pasta, soups, risotto and salads. Just sprinkle a good helping on top
Microwave meals needn't be bad for you – this Shakshuka comes together super simply, and quickly, and utilises things you probably already have in the house!
If you love wontons or dumplings try these beauties using up just one portion of leftovers. These are better then take aways. I call them ‘Fake Aways’
A delicious easy family meal - great for using up leftover uncooked chicken from your BBQ or another meal.
This recipe can be adapted to suit what you have in the fridge. Stewing steak will work just as well as diced beef, just cut it yourself beforehand.
If you’re planning to leave the slow cooker on while at work you could complete some of these steps the night before and refrigerate your meat and veg before adding to the pot in the morning.
Throw these ingredients together in the morning and a warming delicious stew will be waiting for you when you get home. If you're short on time, you can skip the first step and just put all the ingredients in together. Try experimenting by putting in kidney beans or fresh tomatoes in too.
Imagine a dessert so simple yet bursting with flavour that you can whip it up in minutes. That’s exactly what you get with this 1 Ingredient mandarin Sorbet!
The best way to honor this epic citrus fruit that we all love; and the best part, zero waste!
With a few simple ingredients, we’re chucking the ‘pimp’ into pantry with this 5-star dish using up every part of the broccoli.
Cheesy and crisp courgette/zucchini fritters! The perfect recipe for making in big batches if you've got plenty of courgettes/zucchinis.
Experience a miso-glazed sweetcorn dish, where umami richness melds with natural sweetness. Each kernel is coated in a luscious glaze, creating a beautiful flavour blend, perfect for enhancing meals or as a standout side at gatherings.
A great way to use up leftover meatballs and roast vegetables in healthy wrap. Truly portable, these make a winning picnic meal that's healthy and delicious.
Epic creamy and smoky eggplant or aubergine rolls wrapped around a herby cream cheese filling, perfect for snacks and appetisers.
A simple and quick to make stir fry, perfect for using up any veggies and leftover cooked meats for an even quicker meal to get on the table.
Crispy corn fritters with an avocado and edamame salad, using fresh, tinned, or frozen corn kernels so you can make them all year round.
Your new favourite way to cook eggplant is here.
Making eggplant epic with this impressive and easy to prep dish!
Quartered pieces of corn on the cob that are either baked, deep-fried or air-fried. Fun to make and even more fun to eat!
In Aotearoa, we waste 15,174 tonnes of bread every year, but there are plenty of ways to use up those old crusty loaves. Introducing your food waste fighting recipe to save crusts, ends, and dry bread by turning them into delicious bliss balls.
They're super easy to make ahead and store in the freezer, and are perfect for gifting and snacking!
Japanese cabbage pancake that's designed to be cooked with what you like. So check your pantry and fridge for flavour ingredients and veggies that need using up and get creative to make this Okonomiyaki.
This Fish Burger recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This Beef Burger recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This Rice Bowl recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This Rice Bowl recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This One Pot Lemony Pasta recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This Noodle Soup recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
This Creamy Soup recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
Chilli mix three ways - add corn chips to make these nachos. This recipe is part of the Recipe Remix series, see tips for more remix versions.
Preserving food is the perfect way to help fight food waste, it's so simple and easy using only two main ingredients.
Crispy, sticky, sweet and sour 'wings' - but made with cauliflower!
The beauty of this dish is that it can be thrown together super quickly, all while the cauliflower is roasting in the oven.
Take roasted carrots to another level and make this delicious showstopper using as many carrots you like!
Perfect whenever you have an overload of carrot and are not sure what to do with them. The beauty of this recipe is that you can add any extra flavor that you fancy.
This recipe is PERFECT for those old carrots that you find at the bottom of your fridge.
Leftover cooked veggies are the star in these tasty butter-free scones! Try it with mashed potatoes, pumpkin, kūmara, or carrots.
It is not only a super-easy dessert that comes together in minutes, it's also insanely delicious! Try out this Avocado and Chocolate Mousse recipe from Misfit Garden.
Here is a simple and easy recipe to turn those peels into delicous, fibre-filled chips from the team at Misfit Garden!
Using only 6-ingredients you can make these tasty cookies using canned chickpeas as the hero!
Save those broccoli stalks and stems and make a delicious and super simple tempura - perfect as a starter or to have with your main meal.
Plus you can use this easy tempura batter to coat any other vege!
Thank you Misfit Garden for this recipe.
A fun and quick to make recipe featuring mayonnaise as the egg and oil substitution for a delicious chocolate cake!
There are many ways to use your leftover rice, but is definitely one of our favourites.
(Thank you Misfit Garden for this recipe)
The spice and crunch you get from hot cross buns as crumble topping is one you've got to try!
Making fluffy pancakes with no milk or eggs can be done. Give this a go!
Think of a tiramisu, Eton mess, and parfait fusion - add berries and you’ve made a berrymisu mess!
A great way to use up those soft berries and you can change up the recipe to use what you already have, or your favourite ingredients to fill the layers and make your own misu-mess.
Got kūmara that needs using up or leftover boiled or mashed kūmara? Try making this flatbread, and you only need two ingredients!
Make a deliciously fudgy and moist chocolate cake with stale bread!
Make the most brightly flavoured cupcakes by blending up a whole orange!
For one or for as many people you want to share with - just multiply the quantities in the recipe.
Also a great way to use small or large amounts of milk!
Steaming cooks fish evenly resulting with a moist and tender flesh, best for cooking lean types of fish such as cod, snapper, trevally etc.
Make the most of the remaining fish flesh left on the bone after filleting.
So quick and easy to make, season with your favourite flavours and enjoy them like chicken wings!
For scones that stay moist, add mashed potatoes!
Compleating at its finest!
Recipe was inspired by the Whole Meyer Lemon Loaf by Nicola Galloway, find the link to this recipe in the cooking tips below.
These light and fresh rolls look so pretty and are an exciting way to change up the lunchbox or snack time.
Looking for a fast but tasty meal? This steak wrap with Italian dressing is sure to be a family favourite. Use leftover cooked steak for lunch in a flash.
There’s nothing more satisfying than repurposing leftovers and getting not just another complete meal out of them, but also something with completely different flavours and presentation.
Taking leftovers to the next level, this pita recipe is a keeper.
Fresh and bursting with flavour, these beef and vegetable packed rice paper rolls won’t disappoint and are an excellent way to use leftover steak. The dipping sauce combines sweet and spicy flavours, complementing the tender beef perfectly.
This lamb rump with red lentil salad recipe is perfect for a mid-week dinner. Simple stuff that can be cooked up relatively quickly.
Looking for a meaty twist on dumplings? Matt Melville cooked up these delicious dumplings using leftover brisket (lamb shoulder works well here too), a handful of fresh and frozen veggies, and some chili. Comfort food at its best - and a great recipe to get the kids involved with!
This simple but delicious roti wrap is a family favourite and a great way to use leftover brisket, lamb shoulder or any other cooked meat.
A simple recipe for ANZAC biscuits with a twist.
Quick and impressive, and a great way to enjoy peaches or try with other fruit!
This raspberry and avocado ice cream by Irina from Nourishing Works is an easy, delicious and healthy way to use up avocados, should you be in the fortunate position to have too many (or have some over-ripe ones). It's dairy free and you can use maple syrup to make it vegan.
This spicy slow cooker vegetarian soup won't break the bank. It's perfect on a cold winters night.
These budget crackers are so simple and easy and take no time to make.
If your celery is starting to go limp or you don't enjoy eating the inner stalks of the celery, then soup is the answer.
These salmon burgers with lemon slaw use cupboard staples for a tasty low cost burger
These easy beef burgers with wedges include ingredients which are cheap and in season in Autumn making a low cost alternative to Friday night takeaways.
These pizzas are made from pita pockets and use cupboard staples to make your money go further.
These mini Hawaiian pizzas are super easy to make at home with the children. If you can't find flour at the moment or want to save time, use pita pockets as the base.
This fresh spring salad uses the entire cauliflower stalks and stems to replace the bulgar wheat that’s usually found in tabbouleh. Perfect for anyone who is gluten-free this recipe is full of fresh herbs and the inclusion of oranges adds a lovely sweetness.
These easy peel muffins use banana and orange peels. Give them a go - you will be surprised how good they taste.
Here’s a great hack for turning stale bread crusts into a delicious dessert in under 10 minutes.
A tasty and easy way to use up your leftover kūmara and potato peels.
Use up the whole of your cauliflower - stalks and all - by making this lemon and herb cauliflower rice.
This sauce can be made with oranges, tangelos or lemons. It goes well with leftover pork or chicken, but would also work well with ice cream for dessert.
This easy cordial recipe can be made out of lemons, limes or grapefruit. It takes less than 10 minutes to make so it's an easy way to make the most of seasonal citrus.
When your trees are groaning with lemons, limes and mandarins, why not save the skins and make your own citrus cleaning spray? This simple eco friendly cleaner can also help you cut down on how much plastic you use.
This is a concentrated vegetable stock paste. Unlike conventional vegetable stock you use up all the ingredients instead of straining them out at the end saving all that goodness. You can even use your vegetable scraps to make it and it lasts for up to 4 months.
Making homemade seed crackers reduces your plastic waste and these super easy crackers use any combination of seeds and flours.
These crispy chicken rice paper cups are easy to make, impressive to look at and delicious to eat.
Turn leftover salad greens into this bright green dip - it's an delicious way to get in an extra serve of vegetables or two.
Give new life to leftover mince with these individual Mediterranean mince pies. This recipe can easily be scaled up or down depending on how much mince you have.
Jazz up your leftover mashed potato by making these salmon mashed potato bites – perfect as a starter or finger food for a party.
These quick microwaved stuffed apples are perfect for an indulgent weeknight dessert. The honey marscapone can be replaced by cream, ice cream or custard.
This easy microwave curd can be made with any sort of citrus: lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, mandarins or tangelos they can all be used to make this tasty curd.
Turn the woody ends of your asparagus spears into this easy asparagus stalk pesto. Use the pesto as a dip, spread, salad dressing or pasta sauce.
Turn your cabbage into this simple and versatile Japanese savoury pancake. Make it your own by topping it with your favourite toppings.
This zucchini, feta and mint quiche is perfect for a vegetarian meal. Because it uses sliced bread as the base it is quick and cheap to make.
No pastry, no problem! Whip up this quick ham and cheese bread quiche in a flash, using bread instead of pastry.
If your kids won't eat their crusts, serve them these cinnamon sugar bread chips. Quick and easy to make, these make the perfect treat.
Turn your kid's crusts into a snack they will love. Save them in a bag in the freezer until you have enough to make these garlic bread chips.
Make a meal in a mug in only a few minutes. This savoury dish can be a breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack – whatever you need! It’s quick and easy to make, and you can easily adjust the flavourings to use up what you have.
If you’ve got hungry mouths to feed, this recipe is for you. Sweet and satisfying, your kids can whip up this meal in a mug in a matter of minutes, using whatever you have in the pantry.
If you love pesto, try making this broccoli stalk pesto. It's quick, easy and a great way to make use of a broccoli stalk.
Raid your fridge for any leftover meat and wilting greens which you can use to whip up this quick fridge harvest stew.
Use leftover roast pumpkin to whip up this quick and easy pumpkin hummus. Toast stale bread to serve alongside it for a tasty snack.
These feijoa pancakes will become a family favourite. They're perfect for an after school treat.
Only two ingredients are needed to make this banana and chocolate ice cream. Not only is it easy to make, it's also healthier than regular ice cream.
These picked carrots are super quick to whip up when you need to add some zing to a meal.
Quick and easy to make, this crunchy carrot and apple salad makes a great side dish.
If you ordered too much food at the takeaways, don't throw it away. Turn your leftovers into this delicious fish and chip pie.
All you need to whip up this quick one cup jam is half a cup of berries and half a cup of sugar. Easy as!
Fire up the barbecue and turn your Christmas leftovers into these easy Boxing Day fritters.
Turn the last of your cereal into a Christmas Crackle Tree. These make a great centerpiece which you can eat and enjoy after the meal.
These Cranberry Christmas Kebabs use leftover ham and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
These crispy veggie fritters are a quick way to transform leftover vegetables.
Use up your leftover leafy greens in Sarah Wilson's delicious cheesy super-greens fondue which is perfect for a night on the couch.
If you have unexpected guests and need to whip up a dip in a hurry, then use those frozen broad beans lurking in your freezer in this quick and simple recipe.
Quesadillas are a quick and easy way to make leftovers tasty. You can make these in a sandwich press, oven, or a frying pan.
This omelette wrap is perfect for turning a small amount of leftovers into a whole new meal.
Rice paper rolls are a quick way to repackage your leftovers - with no cooking required!
Thick, creamy, tangy and delicious; this bread aioli is a great way to use up stale and even frozen bread. Serve it as a dip or a sauce.
These are apple pies with a twist! They're quick and easy to make, and are a great way to use up small amounts of leftover pastry.
Muffin tins are an easy way to make pies and the best thing is, you can fill them with all types of leftovers. These lattice top pies look great and use up all those pastry scraps.
Use up wilting spinach by mixing it with ricotta in these crispy pies.
Making a strudel out of filo pastry is a simple way to make a pie. This chicken and cranberry strudel can be made using your leftover Christmas turkey.
The Messy Baker Charmian Christie puts a modern twist on a traditional dessert with this nut roly-poly. Great for using up leftover pastry.
Turn your leftover puff pastry into these moreish cheese straws. They make a great party snack and you can use a range of flavourings depending on what you have to hand.
Turn a bag of forgotten, sad looking greens into a damn good dressing. This works well with spinach, lettuce, rocket or even leafy herbs like parsley or coriander.
If you’re peeling potatoes, save the skins! They may look a lot like waste, but it is quick and easy to turn them into something delicious. Munch them down as a snack or pile them atop anything you like to add a bit of salt and crisp to a dish.
This is a delicious fruit salad that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert.
Jambalaya means jumbled or mixed up, which is a great way to describe this dish as it contains a mix of spice, chicken, prawns, vegetables and rice. You can experiment with different meats and veg, depending on what’s in the fridge!
Turn your leftover chicken into a tasty Asian-inspired filled roll with pickled carrots.
You'll never throw away your cauliflower leaves again after trying this pesto.
Try these banana nuggets instead of a biscuit with your cup of tea.
Use leftover chicken or turkey in this fast and tasty meal.
These healthy tarts are quick and easy to make, and are a great alternative to a sandwich in your child's lunch box.
Turn ripe bananas into Sua Fa'i, perfect for a simple and filling breakfast or dessert.
If you've cooked too much pasta make use of it in this frittata.
Turn leftover rice into a deliciously creamy treat with this great Nadia Lim recipe.
Served warm or cold, this surprising salad combination is tasty and filling.
These are super simple and perfect for the lunchbox. There's no need to follow the recipe exactly - use whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Fried rice is the perfect way to use up leftover rice and any odds and ends lurking in your fridge.
This tasty soup is perfect for lunch or quick evening meal. You can add any leftover cooked pumpkin or kūmara.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt shares his recipe for cheese rolls. These cheesy treats are also known as the 'Sushi of the South'.
If you aren't sold on the idea of salad, you can cook your lettuce. This speedy cooking method keeps the lettuce quite crisp and it is a good side dish with a Chinese-style meal.
Sophie Gray shares her recipe for a hearty pumpkin pasta that will please your hungry family.
Wrap your leftover chicken and vegetables in a tortilla to make these tasty fajitas.
The broccoli leaf may not be a famous 'super food' yet - but you will feel pretty super after starting your day with this smoothie.
These bite-sized banana morsels are a not-so-naughty treat.
Turn brown bananas into a delicious breakfast.
MasterChef NZ winner Aaron Brunet shares his Panzanella recipe to breathe new life into stale bread.
Save the discarded fruit from your kid’s lunchbox and turn it into this fun jungle gelato, perfect for a hot day.
Quick and substantial, you can include whatever vegetables and cheese you need to use up.
Annabel Langbein shares her recipe for using up stale bread. This Provençal Crust makes a great topping for cauliflower cheese, roasted vegetables or spooned into mushrooms and baked.
Don't throw out your broccoli stalks, they are a key ingredient in this nourishing soup from Dr Libby Weaver.
This quick and easy tart will impress your friends and family.
This is an ideal way to use up any left-over cooked rice. Adapt the filling to include whatever you have in the fridge.
Leftover rice is easily transformed into dainty, crispy rice cakes which make an ideal side dish.
Somewhere between an individual soufflé and a quiche, these are a delicious way to jazz up leftover cooked vegetables.
Delicious and easy to make, these apple roll ups are great any time of the day.
Use leftover rice and vegetables in these impressive stuffed tomatoes.
This deliciously thick stew can be varied depending on what you have in the fridge. Its good served with couscous, rice, baked potatoes or warm pita bread and salad. It’s also really tasty cold the next day served in a wrap.
