A common problem housewives face is the dilemma of having too much food for one meal, which is a waste to throw away, but doesn't taste good the next day. Today, I'll share a few tips on how to turn leftovers into delicious dishes.
Tip One:
Pre-portion cold dishes. If you can't finish all the cold dishes in one meal, set a small portion aside in the refrigerator before serving it. The next day, it can be mixed with other cold dishes for a salad platter; or you can add lettuce, cucumbers, and bread slices to make sandwiches. If you don't want to eat it cold, you can also use these cold dishes to make a delicious mixed rice casserole.
Tip Two:
Transform braised dishes cleverly. Braised food that has absorbed flavor can be easily transformed by changing its shape and adding seasonings. For example, common braised beef can be shredded and mixed with cucumbers and chili oil to become another delicious dish; it can also be diced and made into a beef and egg drop soup with coriander. Cold-cut sausage can also be shredded and stir-fried with celery shreds, then eaten wrapped in spring pancakes.
Tip Three:
Recook greasy foods. If you have greasy leftovers, such as braised pork knuckle, you can remove the excess fat, dice the lean meat and skin, and mix them with bean sprouts, cabbage, and dried tofu to make a filling for pies or buns.
Tip Four:
How to re-fried fish without that "re-fried" taste. If you have leftover fried fish, reheating the fish can make it tough and hard to eat. You can re-braise it with diced bell peppers and carrots, seasoning with soy sauce and sugar to eliminate that "re-fried" flavor.
Tip Five:
Chinese food, Western style—a kid's favorite. Give your leftover Chinese dishes a makeover by turning them into exotic foods to add a fresh twist. For example, wrap cured meat with sesame in lettuce leaves to make meat rolls, to be dipped in vinegar sauce; or stir-fry leftover rice with mushrooms, onions, and minced garlic to make Italian fried rice.