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1) Finish a dish with a crispy topping.
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you’re free to also use pretty much any crispy carb here.
Crushed pretzels or crackers could work too.
2) Roast basically any kind of canned beans.
You may have already heard of roasting chickpeas for a snack or salad topper.
(Skip if youre making a soup or stew.)
It just makes them more crispy, Milne says.
And crispy beans are all the tastier for tossing with pasta, grain bowls, or roasted veggies.
3) Use pickled garnishes liberally.
Put that jar of sauerkraut in your fridge to work.
Milne also likes using capers and pickles, surprisingly versatile flavor bombs commonly found in pantries.
Kimchi is another tasty option.
4) Dont wait till the last minute to add beans and lentils into a dish.
5) Fry up veggie fritters or burgers.
Canned veggies and legumes take on a whole new life when you mix them with egg and flour.
One of Milnes all-time favorite canned goods recipes is corn fritters.
6) Turn to bold spice blends.
Her favorites are curry powder and harissa.
Zaatar is another great option.
7) Puree veggies into a chowder
Not a huge fan of canned veggies?
You get all the flavor and nutrition without the mushy texture that some people find unappealing.
(You could do something similar with jarred red peppers or canned pumpkin puree.
)The Hungry Housewifehas a clever recipe for carrot coconut soup made with canned carrots and coconut milk.
8) Make a kitchen-sink soup.
Get creative with your ingredient combos here.
9) Whip up an all-purpose zingy dressing.
The fail-safe way to banish blahness and blandness from pretty much any canned good?
Basically slather it in a really good dressing, Milne says.
If you have something creamy like tahini or yogurt handy, go for it.
Check out some ideashereandhere.
10) Make fish cakes.
Fish cakes are the easiest way to turn cold, humdrum canned fish into a warm, restaurant-quality dish.
Try a basic recipe for tuna cakes fromThe Real Food RDsor a salmon patty recipe fromWell Plated by Erin.
11) Liven up canned fruit.
Canned fruit can be supersweet and a little one-note, flavor-wise.
It really livens them up, she says.
