Giving the Leftovers a Makeover

 

 For the most part I love leftovers.  Sometimes, however, foods aren't nearly as good as they were at their original cooking.  Take for instant a baked potato.  The white meat of that tuber will never be soft and fluffy as it was the night before.


corn on the cob is hard to get excited about as it was when you took it off the grill last night.

 

this is how I rescue leftovers to give them a second life.

peel the baked potato and slice in 1/2 inch slices, then slice those in half

slice the corn kernels off the cob

slice up half a yellow onion

and slice up a couple cloves of garlic




Melt the butter until browned then add the onions.  With a wooden spoon or utensil of your choice, delicately separate the onions.  Cook these over medium low heat until soft and limp.




Add the corn




Add the potatoes and the garlic




Sprinkle a pinch of smoked paprika over the top and gently stir.

Salt and pepper to taste.

With your wooden spoon scrape up the fond that will accumulate on the bottom of the pan and fold it in with the vegetables  This will really add flavor to the vegetables.


Mmmm.  The potato becomes creamy, the corn still pops and lends a little sweetness, the onions and garlic lend their flavor and the paprika gives it a little smokiness


Leftover Veggie Hash
Serves 4


Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. salted butter
One medium baked potato
1 medium roasted corn on the cob
1/2 medium yellow onion
2 to 3 small garlic cloves
pinch of smoked paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Mise en place:

• slice off butter and place in saute pan
• peel baked potato and slice cross-wise into 1/2 inch slices, then cut those in half
• shuck corn and with a sharp knife slice down cob from top to bottom to remove kernels
• peel and slide 1/2 yellow onion, slicing this from the side, not the end
• peel and slice garlic cloves

Method:
Heat butter in saute pan.  When the butter begins to turn brown add the onions.  Cook over medium low heat until they become limp and start to brown.  Toss in the corn and combine.  Then add the potatoes and the garlic.  

Allow the vegetables slowly heat up and take on a nice color.  Sprinkle the smoked paprika over vegetables then salt and pepper to taste.