Reduce Waste With This Mild Kid-Friendly Curry From Leftovers {Vegan, Vegetarian}

Reduce food waste with this “clear-the-crisper” kid-friendly curry made from whatever leftover vegetables you have on hand. Vegan friendly.

It’s the end of the shopping week or fortnight, and you’ve got a bit of this and a bit of that leftover in the crisper.

What do you cook to use up the dribs and drabs and reduce waste?

Here’s one idea: a vegetable curry that’s delicious, mild and kid-friendly.

What Vegetables Go Well in Curry?

You can add whatever you have in the fridge, the freezer or the pantry to this curry. Here are some suggestions:

• Carrot
• Green beans
• Pumpkin
• Potato
• Sweet Potato
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Peas
• Capsicum (Bell Pepper)
• Baby Spinach
• Onion
• Eggplant

This curry uses tinned tomatoes, but you can add chopped fresh tomatoes instead.

Can You Use Frozen Vegetables?

Yes! For an easy mid-week cheat, you can use a bag of mixed frozen vegetables instead of fresh vegetables.

This makes it a very cheap and easy meal that still has loads of flavour and nutrients.

Depending on the brand and where you shop, a bag of mixed frozen vegetables can cost between $2 and $5 (2022 prices in Australia). Add in the coconut milk, rice, tomatoes and spices, and this meal is less than $10.

Tips For Kids Who Aren’t Keen on Veggies

If your kids aren’t keen on some or all of the vegetables, you can try the following:

• sticking to the vegetables they know and will eat
• finely chopping or grating the vegetables
• blending some or all of the curry so it’s smooth and soupy (leave some chunky for the adults, if you prefer)

I’ve used all of these tricks at various times over the years for both kids. I’ve blended, grated, chopped…and then there was one year we ate a lot of broccoli. Kids grow up, their palate usually matures, and they eat more vegetables.

Freezing Vegetable Curry

Making a big batch of this curry and freezing half for later is a great way to have a healthy mid-week dinner when you’re busy.

Your future self will be high-fiving your current self for thinking ahead.

Cool your curry to room temperature and place it in a freezer-safe container—label and freezer for up to three months.

Defrost in the fridge and reheat until piping hot, either in a pot on the stove or microwave.

Variations – Spicing it Up and Adding Leftover Meat

While this curry is kid-friendly, adding chilli can make it more ‘adult’.

Having said that, a friend from India cooks with lots of chilli, and her kids love hot food, so what kids eat depends, in part, on what they are used to. You don’t have to eliminate all heat from your cooking.

You can also make this non-vegan by adding leftover meat. If you have leftover roast lamb, beef, or chicken, chop it up and mix it in with the vegetables to reheat.

What Sides Go Well with Curry

Rice is the go-to side for a curry.

If you have an inexpensive rice cooker, it’s very simple to get perfect, low-fuss rice every time.

You can also serve this with a side of homemade roti, naan bread, or potatoes.

I love adding a dollop of natural yoghurt (use coconut yoghurt if you’re vegan) to add a little acidity.

You can also top your curry with some toasted slivered almonds or cashews for crunch, a sprig or two of coriander (cilantro), and a side of sliced cucumber.

Looking for other ways to use up vegetables in the crisper? You might also like Roast Vegetable Frittata.