If you’re someone who likes to experiment with infusions of olive oil, alcohol, and more, you might be wondering what to do with the leftover ingredients you used to infuse. Instead of throwing these ingredients away, you can actually make new dishes out of them! Getting creative with these ingredients not only saves you money, but also allows you to produce less waste.
Sauce
If you’ve made a cherry-infused vodka, cranberry gin, or any other fruit, you can actually easily turn them into a pan sauce! But if there are any pits in your fruit, make sure to take them out before you start cooking.
After you’ve roasted or sauteed any sort of fatty protein like lamb, chicken, or the likes, pour the leftover drippings into a pan. Heat it up with some apple cider or pomegranate juice, and then throw the fruit into the pan. Cook everything for a few minutes so the alcohol flavor cooks off and pour over your meat!
Vegetables
Another good way to use up an infused ingredient is to throw them into the oven with some seasonal vegetables to roast. Make sure to balance whatever ingredient you’re using with spices and herbs.