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Leftover Salad
A salad bowl of wilting dressed leaves that’s been left for too long is a depressing sight to people who believe in enjoying simple food from quality ingredients. The limp and wilted remains look fit only for the compost heap or rubbish bin, but actually you needn’t waste it; rather, use it to make this tasty leftover salad soup.
The idea of cooking with lettuce and other salad leaves might sound a bit odd to our ears, but of course the French have been serving cooked or warm lettuce for ages; not only in a salade tiede/warm salad but also dishes like braised or seared lettuce. I am a convert to cooking with lettuce; try my recipe for braised iceberg lettuce.
Unlike those two recipes, however, this one uses salad that’s already been dressed, but hasn’t been eaten so is looking a little tired. It works equally well with plain leaves or including things like cucumber and tomatoes. You can also use those fridge-bottom salad vegetables that are looking a little past their best – wilted lettuce, wrinkly tomato or that slightly soggy cucumber. Of course, there are limits here: don’t use anything that’s really too far gone.
The great thing about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make, taking about 15 minutes in total. Just add the salad to some oil in a saucepan, fry it off for a few minutes then add vegetable stock. Cover, and let it gently simmer for about 10 minutes, and it’s ready to blitz with a stick blender (or transfer to a food processor or blender) and blend until smooth. Another bonus is that this soup also freezes very well.
Add some salt and pepper at the end to taste, or how about some soy sauce for a hint of umami? We garnished our soups with some sliced radishes for a hint of heat and some crunch, contrasting with a little cool shredded parsley. To make this a little more special add a glug of white wine, or a swirl of cream.
So the next time you are over enthusiastic with the quantity of salad pop the remains back into the fridge and make this for the next meal. It is also low in calories, making it ideal for anyone following the 5:2 or intermittent fasting diet, which also has amazing health benefits. My friend Jac has an excellent guide to the 5:2 diet which is worth a read, especially for vegetarians.
Make this recipe Slimming World Syn Free by sautéing your leftover salad in Fry Light, rather than the olive oil.
Ingredients you can use in Leftover Salad Soup
- Any leftover salad – dressed or not
- Any salad leaves that can be past their best – rocket, all types of lettuce, bagged mixed salad, spinach etc
- Lettuce stalks (cut them up first)
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes – wrinkled, soft ones are fine
- Radishes
- Spring Onions
- Fresh or frozen leafy herbs and their stalks
- Carrot tops
- A slice or two of beetroot – pickled or cooked – this will dramatically change the colour of the soup
- Green beans
If you like salad soup you will also like our fat free pea and lettuce soup or try our fat free dump and start pressure cooker tomato soup.
More Easy Soup Recipes
- Good soup often starts with a soffritto recipe. Make a big batch, freeze and use every time you make soup.
- Carrot and lentil soup
- Pumpkin and sweet potato soup
- Swede Soup
- Slow cooker vegetable soup
- Butternut squash soup
- Tomato and lentil soup
- More easy soup recipes
Summer Soup Recipes
If you like your lettuce cooked try this braised iceberg lettuce recipe.
Left-over salad soup
Ingredients
Dressed salad
- 2 cups salad
- 1 tbsp vinagrette
For the soup
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 300 ml vegetable stock (from cube)
Garnish
- 1 Radish (or other suitable vegetable)
- 2 stalks parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan, and add the salad. Fry for a few minutes.
- Add the stock, put on the lid and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper
- Garnish with sliced radish and shredded parsley.
Notes
- Why not try stirring in some soy sauce ot gluten free tamari for extra flavour just before serving? If you plan on doing this, adjust your seasoning accordingly.
- To make this a little more special stir in a glug of white wine or stir through some cream just before serving.
- Freezes well.
- To make it Keto friendly, use cold pressed olive oil
- This recipe is 3 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
- For low salt use a low salt stock
- To make it whole 30, make your own vegetable stock at home instead of a cube
Shashi at Savory Spin
I just have to say how brilliant is this leftover salad soup! While I’ve heard of cooking with lettuce, I, myself, have never attempted it. Though this leftover salad soup is definitely inspiring me to try!
Helen
The great thing about this is that it is so adaptable. Just bung it all in.
Monica | Nourish & Fete
What a lovely idea! It seems like we always have a little bit of leftover salad – I guess I’m usually too optimistic that we’ll devour more greens than we actually can – and I would love to have a better use for them than adding to our compost!
Helen
it is such a good idea, and the sop is different every time as well as delicious!
Edyta at Innocent Delight
OMG! This is such an amazing idea. I did not know that you can actually cook salad. I’ve been throwing out so much salad so far. I will never do that again. Thanks for this awesome idea Helen!!!
Helen
so quick easy and also delicious!
Beth
This is simply GENIUS! I HATE throwing leftover salad! I usually try to eat it the next day and then give up and throw it the compost! GENIUS, I say!
Helen
Slimy leftover salad is just horrid, the soup is the best solution.
Iman
Omg salad soup!! This sounds so crazy it might work!
Helen
it is so simple, but amazingly good!
Rhian Westbury
I’ve never thought about using leftover salad for a soup, this is a great way to use up leftovers without throwing it out x
Helen
I am so pro anything that reduces food waste.
Sarah Newman, Vegan Chickpea
OMG, I think you are a complete GENIUS!! Seriously cannot wait to try this! Thank you!
Helen
Thank you Sarah – it is so simple, quick and easy.
Lucy Parissi
Was just writing a post about food waste – what an excellent way to salvage leftovers! Looks delicious too which is a big bonus!
Helen
We love this soup. Delicious solution that cuts down on waste.
Stephanie Cummings
what a great idea, we always have random bits of salad left over and this has to be better than it going on the compost pile
Helen
I nearly always have some leftover too. far better than throwing it away
Leandra Bramham
I would never even consider making soup from salad leftovers! But what a good idea, this looks delicious, I love saving food from going into the recycling bin, it feels like free food!
Helen
Anything that cuts down on food waste is a win!
Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook
Great solution to those sad looking salad leaves that are headed for the compost heap.
Helen
far better to make soup than to compost it!
Elizabeth
What a super idea! I’ve never thought about doing something like this but it makes perfect sense. Definitely going to try it soon!
Helen
it is such a easy solution to sad salad.
Ceri Jones
Such a great idea, I am always with bits of leftovers in my fridge and this is better than eating limp leaves! Genius!
Helen
Limp leaves are no good at all.
Lynne Harper
Wow this is one thing I would never have thought that would work, but it clearly does and it looks delicious. How clever and what a great way to use up leftovers x
Helen
It is so good! Perfect for dull summer days.
Donna Ashworth
What a fab idea! ingenious in fact! I will definitely give this a whirl
Helen
Thank you. Enjoy it!
Ana De- Jesus
I have never tried a ‘salad soup before but I really like the concept of it. Plus it sounds delicious x
Helen
It is so quick, easy and delicious.
Kirsty
I don’t eat salad as I don’t like the texture but I might have to give this ago as it sounds nice and I might be able to manage it!
Helen
This has all the flavour and goodness, but without that texture!
Amy
This is actually a GREAT idea! Often I buy salad and don’t get through it in time before it wilts and other times I just simply forget and leave it out. I will definitely be trying this, it looks delicious too.
Helen
it is all too easy to leave it wilting in the salad crisper.
Catering in Den Haag
Nice recipe! Great idea!
Helen
Thank you.
Aria Smith
Yum! I am always looking for more recipes like this. Very quick and easy recipe thanks for sharing.
Helen
Thank you Aria,
Harriet
I really love cooked lettuce. It should never be underestimated. So I can truly believe that this soup is most delicious and it a brilliant use of leftovers.
Belinda Morris
Nothing worse than making a big bowl of salad and finding it wilted and feeling sorry for itself. Ours usually goes on the compost, but this is a really good idea. Will have to give it a try.
Caroline Jessop
I would never have thought that you could cook dressed leftover salad. What a fab idea.
Mal
My Mother makes a very fine lettuce soup, so I can vouch that this will also be very tasty.
Emma Taylor
Great way of using leftovers, and so easy to do. Saves money and makes a tasty lunch.
Robert
What a great idea ! Think it’s worth trying
Helen
it is delicious
MmMm
I made this yesterday and it worked very well. It is a perfect formula for creating a versatile soul base which you can customise. As well as the base ingredients listed, I added a sprinkle of dry curry powder, coconut essence and some lime juice to give it an asian twist. It was so tasty. I’ve made it on several occasions and it always works. You can add carrots, coriander, leftover cucumbers, spices … it’s so adaptable.
Mel
I was surprised this was really good! My day old salad had Italian dressing on it. It consisted of butter lettuce, cabbage, green onion, radishes and plum tomatoes. I just added salt, pepper, broth and a little soy sauce. It made two bowls of soup and was pretty delicious. Thanks for the recipe and helping me not create more food waste. :)
Helen
So pleased you enjoyed it! It is the perfect no waste light soup.