Leftover Magic: Turn Holiday Dinner Extras Into Delicious Griller Sandwiches

One of the biggest advantages of holiday cooking is that once the feast has been completed, the leftovers tend to last for days. This may not always be a bad thing given that there’s always scope for repurposing most of the food into delicious and hearty meals that still hold the holiday spirit intact. With Usha’s Sandwich Griller for company, fixing up a speedy but filling lunch or dinner isn’t an overwhelming idea. Quick fixes and spruced up touches transform leftovers into innovative sandwich fillings and combinations one might’ve not conjured up previously. Eat them as a full meal or divide into bite-sized portions to serve friends—these flavours evoke nostalgia and comfort in every bite.

Roast Chicken/Turkey Sandwich

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A whole roasted chicken or turkey goes a long way to repurpose leftover chicken bits into any kind of meal, following the feast. To make the classic roast chicken sandwich, apply butter to one side of the sourdough slice before placing them in the griller. Spread mayonnaise on the inside and layer with tomatoes, cheese, onions, bell peppers and the shredded chicken. Top up the filling with the second buttered slice and grill until the cheese is perfectly gooey. Serve with a hot sauce or garlic aioli on the side.

Mashed Potato-Bacon Sandwich

A great way to extend the utility of cold mashed potatoes is by spicing it lightly and stuffing it between two slices of bread with crispy bacon. The crispness of the salty bacon offers great contrast and richness to the soft, mellow flavours of the mashed potatoes. For depth of flavour, oven roast the bacon strips with a drizzle of maple syrup and sprinkle of fresh thyme.

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Mac And Cheese Grilled Cheese

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The macaroni casserole is the perfect vehicle for other flavours such as caramelised onions and grainy mustard to be paired within a sandwich. Use a thickly sliced milk bread that is buttered generously before adding a scoop of the cheesy macaroni in. Add a slice of processed cheese for extra decadence before grilling it for not more than 4 minutes, until perfectly browned. Slice and serve hot with any kind of hot sauce on the side.

Also Read: The Science Of The Perfect Melt: Winter Cheese Combinations For Serial Grillers

Roasted Veggie-Pesto Grill

Leftover Brussels sprouts, new potatoes and roasted carrots are the perfect addition to this pesto-flavoured snack that is not only loaded with fibre but can also be enhanced with some ricotta or salty feta cheese. For freshness, add bean sprouts, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes and some cucumbers once the sandwich has been grilled. Be generous with the pesto without making it the overpowering flavour of each bite.

Meatloaf Sandwich

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If one plans on swapping the Christmas roast with a meatloaf as their centrepiece for dinner, it is only fair to save up a few slices to stash between slices of white bread and grill it with plenty of cheese. This delicious sandwich is a great lunch option or perfect as a snack—give or take with the addition of a few more ingredients. Add sliced boiled eggs to the sandwich as is or in the form of an egg salad to boost its protein content and give it a different texture.

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