World Food Day: 7 Recipes You Can Make From Leftovers

Today is World Food Day, an annual event introduced in 1979 to raise awareness about food inequality and safety. According to the UN, there are around 733 million people facing hunger around the world – yet at the same time, food waste remains rife. Over a third of all food produced globally goes to waste, and here in the UK we throw away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste every year, despite the fact 8.4 million people in the country are living in food poverty. A key aim of the initiative is to encourage people to consider their own food habits and make positive changes. With that in mind, experts from Business Waste have shared some simple leftovers recipes.

‘World Food Day is a reminder to not only be grateful for what we have but also to think more about how we can reduce waste,’ says co-founder Mark Hall. ‘Small actions, like making the most of the food we already have instead of buying fresh and letting things spoil, can make a big difference. If more people embraced this mindset, the staggering food waste statistics we see today would be much smaller.’

Easy Leftovers Recipes

Garlic Butter Pasta

‘Pasta is always a lifesaver when you’re running low on groceries. To make this dish, boil the pasta and in a separate pan, sauté some garlic in butter. Toss the cooked pasta into the garlic butter and finish with a sprinkle of cheese. It’s rich, flavourful, and incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients.’

Potato and Onion Hash

‘Potatoes and onions are pantry staples that can be transformed into a hearty meal. Dice them up and fry them in butter until they’re crispy. Top the hash with a fried egg for a bit of protein. This comforting dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner when you’re down to the basics.’

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Carrot and Potato Soup

‘Got some carrots and potatoes leftover? Turn them into a warm and nutritious soup. Sauté garlic and onions, add diced carrots and potatoes, then simmer everything until tender. Blend it all up, and you’ve got a creamy, healthy soup to get you through the day.’

Cheesy Garlic Bread

‘If you have some bread, garlic, butter, and cheese, you can make an irresistible snack or side dish for the above carrot and potato soup (or almost anything else). Spread garlic butter on the bread slices, sprinkle with cheese, and pop it in the oven until the bread is crispy and the cheese melted. Simple, but oh-so-satisfying!’

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Egg Fried Rice

‘With just rice, eggs, garlic, and onions, you can crack on creating quick and delicious fried rice. Sauté the garlic and onions in a pan, then add in cooked rice. Scramble the eggs directly in the pan and mix everything together. This is a great way to use leftover rice while adding protein with the eggs.’

Cheese and Potato Bake

‘Transform potatoes and cheese into a comforting bake. Slice the potatoes thinly and layer them in a dish with butter and cheese. Bake until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is bubbling on top. This dish is the perfect comfort meal that uses up leftover potatoes.’

Carrot and Onion Frittata

‘Frittatas are the perfect solution when you have leftover eggs and vegetables. Sauté onions and carrots in a pan, whisk the eggs, pour them over the vegetables, and sprinkle with cheese. Cook until set, and you’ve got a protein-packed meal that’s easy to customise with whatever veggies you have left.’