Hero Recipes

We call these 'hero recipes' because I regularly make them to save food that might otherwise be thrown out. Any time you need to make a meal with a bunch of random stuff, these dishes can come to the rescue. With these recipes and a reasonably stocked pantry, you can cobble together something delicious. Even if you haven't gone grocery shopping in a week, and everything in the crisper drawer is wilted. We promise.

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Thanksgiving (or anytime) Congee aka Jook, Xi Fan, Rice Porridge, and more

Thanksgiving congee - or make it anytime, even with leftover rice! Also known as jook, xi fan, rice porridge, and so many more names.

All-The-Veggies Bolognese

Cooking with Zero Waste with the City of Boston: The Recipes!

Roasted Squash (or Any Veg!) with Honey Whipped Feta and Chili Crisp

Chocolate and Squishy Berry Bread Pudding

A perfect use-it-up dessert with stale or leftover bread, plus a delicious bar of sustainably produced chocolate and a bowl of squishy blueberries.

All-The-Herbs Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs, perfect for using up parsley, cilantro, dill, basil, mint, or whatever tender herbs you have hanging around. Drizzle it on anything, dip everything, it’s that good.

Tabbouleh-Inspired Herb Salad

A tabbouleh-ish herb salad Hero Recipe, perfect for using up all the fresh herbs, summery vegetables and random stuff in your fridge.

All-The-Leftovers Pot Pie

A family favorite Hero Recipe, perfect for using up a rotisserie chicken and all sorts of vegetables, from roots to stalks to stems to leftovers.

Fridge-Cleanout Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki - a delicious cabbage pancake that can also take lots of different vegetables and leftovers. Cook it as you like it!

Miso-Honey Roasted Tofu and Vegetables

An easy sheet pan recipe to use up all sorts of random vegetables, complete with golden brown bites of tofu.

VIDEO: Baked Eggs or Shakshuka in Red and Green

a video on shakshuka featuring ridiculous outfits and delicious egg dishes that use up all your random ingredients.

VIDEO: It's Pickle Time!

Quick pickles with all your extra vegetables

VIDEO: Four Ways With Ramen

Ramen grilled cheese, Egg in a Ramen Nest, Garlic Butter Anchovy Ramen, Ramen Noodle Salad and more

Thai-Style Larb with Veggies and Herbs

Salty-sweet-sour-hot and perfect for using up alliums, herbs, leaves, and all kinds of veggies!

Use-Up-All-The-Veggies Soup

Use up all the veggies in a mix + match soup.

Soba Noodles with Salmon, Snap Peas and Bok Choy from My Kitchen Chalkboard

Meal Planning with My Kitchen Chalkboard: Meal #2

Savory Galette with Veggies and Cheese

Pie crust + any veggies + cheese = SUCCESS.

Food Rescue Summer Rolls

Fresh, crunchy, and perfect for all the wilted and wrinkly veggies.

Thai-Style Curry with Any Vegetable

A flavorful curry paste and rich coconut milk serve as the base for any vegetable and lots of proteins

A Quiche Full of Leftovers

Buttery pie crust and eggy custard plus leftovers? Yes please.

Fridge-Raiding Mac & Cheese

Cheesy pasta with all the veggies you’ve got! Sign us up.

All-The-Stuff Savory Tart

A dinner party-worthy hero recipe that welcomes everything in the fridge

Whatever's In The Fridge (And Pantry) Pasta

Pasta + salt + olive oil + whatever you have in the fridge = cause for celebration.

A Zero-Food-Waste Quesadilla

Seriously. You can stuff pretty much any vegetable or meat in between delicious layers of cheese and tortilla and it will be delicious.

Savory Bread Pudding with Whatever You Have

Welcomes all vegetables and loved by all ages. What more can you ask for?

Whole Grain Bowls with All Your Favorite Stuff

Healthy, filling, delicious, and can be made in minutes (if you've put some work in already)

Endlessly Customizable Fried Rice

There's a whole delicious world of fried rice out there, and you can put anything on it.

Fridge Cleanout Frittata

My weekly go-to recipe to clear out the fridge, from wilty things to random jars.

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We're Mei & Irene.

Hero Recipes