Fridge Sweep Pasta

Photo by Joann Pai @sliceofpai

Published June 20, 2018

I live on the fifth floor of an apartment that doesn’t have an elevator, and this might sound a little
lazy, but sometimes I just can’t be bothered to walk down (and then back up again) all those
stairs in order to buy supplies for making dinner...even if the closest shop is only right across the
street from our building. Good thing figuring out what to do with all the bits and bobs I tend to
have leftover is basically one of my favourite activities. Call me crazy, but some of my most
memorable meals have been born from simply cleaning out the fridge or rummaging through the
semi-abandoned contents of my crisper. Off the top of my head, some of the greatest hits in this
repertoire include the caramelized onion dip my friend Rebekah came up with, the spicy kimchi
fried rice I made for lunch yesterday and the warm lamb salad made from leftovers the day after
our wedding.

To get started, simply take stock of what you have to work with. Keep in mind that some things
you find might not still be at their most glorious (yes, I’m talk about you wilted parsley), but that
certainly doesn’t mean they should be relegated to the garbage. Refresh those herbs in ice
water, or peel back the sad outer layers of that cabbage you’ve been meaning to use up, and
get ready to make some magic!

Having a well-stocked pantry with at least the basics like a good olive oil, some fleur de sel and
a couple different vinegars to work with, while although not mandatory, will certainly make your
life a whole lot easier. It is also worth noting that random handfuls of seeds or nuts, a box of
dried pasta, a can of tomatoes, or even a pack of instant ramen can be game changers when
you are trying to bring a bunch of random things together.

Finally, although this recipe can most certainly be shopped for and made as it is written, the
ingredients listed definitely don’t need to be seen as a set of rules that can’t be broken. I hope
you will feel free to change things up as you see fit, especially if it means it will help you use up
something that you happen to already have on hand. The world (or the back of your refrigerator, anyways) is your oyster!

Link to recipe here.