7 other ways to use leftover bread

When life hands you stale bread, add it to home-made meatballs or a Middle Eastern bread salad

BREADCRUMBS Combine dried breadcrumbs – made by drying the bread in a low oven – then blitzing in a food processor, with your choice of herbs and grated hard cheese to use as a coating for chicken.

CROUTONS Cut stale bread into cubes, then drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs, chopped garlic and seasoning, and bake for 15 minutes. Add to soups and salads, or allow to cool and freeze in an airtight container to use later.

FATTOUSH SALAD Use leftover toasted pita in this popular Middle Eastern bread salad with plenty of crunchy veg. Or make a Lebanese chicken fatteh – toasted pita pieces, shredded leftover chicken, chickpeas, toasted nuts and a garlicky yoghurt dressing.

MAC-AND-CHEESE GRATIN While your mac and cheese is in the oven, melt butter over a medium heat. Add chopped garlic, breadcrumbs and parsley. Remove the mac from the oven, sprinkle with cheese, followed by the crumb topping, then bake again until golden and crunchy.

MEATBALLS Making meatballs with just mince and seasoning can result in a dry meatball that falls apart. A little beaten egg helps them keep their shape, and breadcrumbs absorb the juices as the meat cooks, keeping it moist.

MIGAS This Spanish dish of garlicky fried bread cubes and chorizo topped with fried eggs is a quick, tasty midweek supper.

PANZANELLA Toast cubes of stale ciabatta or sourdough in the oven, then toss with tomatoes, anchovies, herbs and a simple olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing to soak into the bread. See p 129.