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How to use up leftover meat from making broth or stock. Don't throw it away, it's a valuable source of high-quality, complete protein!
Whether you prefer homemade bone broth or a quick (low glutamate) broth that's great for sensitive digestion, you're bound to have plenty of meat leftover!
If you make a gallon a week like we do, it may seem overwhelming at first because you have so much meat that it seems useless.
Unfortunately, our modern society has been programmed by traditional diet authorities to look to lean meats as the pinnacle of complete proteins.
Often mistaken for premium meats such as expensive, skinless, boneless chicken breasts, novice traditional cooks are often at a loss as to what to do with the watery meat left over from making broth or stock.
Since a key feature of the ancestral kitchen is smart frugality, it's important to know how to use those leftovers properly.
So, let me share with you the best way I've found over the decades to utilize this valuable source of protein, known as “broth meat” in our house.
Soup
Meat that's been simmered for hours becomes tasteless and watery (but still a great source of protein), but the easiest way to use it is to add it to homemade soup.
You can put the meat directly into the soup, or puree it and eat it.
For ideas on incorporating these traditional cooking methods, check out some of my favorite homemade soup recipes.
Chicken salad
Leftover chicken is great in chicken salad.
Then, it's great served on top of a salad or in a sandwich.
For a keto-style lunch, try adding a few celery sticks to your chicken salad.
Here's a recipe for turkey salad. If you don't have chicken, you can substitute it.
baby food
When my children were young, leftover broth made a simple baby food that was delicious to eat.
It was cooked slowly for a long time, so it was very tender and soaked in rich broth, and when cut into small pieces, it had a texture that was perfect for young hands and mouths.
After removing the meat, be especially careful to ensure that no bone fragments remain in the meat. This is an important warning to heed!
Quesadilla
Quesadillas are a great way to use up any kind of leftover broth, including beef, chicken, and turkey.
Place desired amount of meat on a sourdough tortilla (this is the brand I use) and top with a slice of cheese (I use this company's block of cheese when I cook).
Top with another sourdough tortilla and bake at 350°F/177°C for 12-15 minutes.
Serve with homemade sour cream, guacamole and chopped tomatoes.
Tip: Never buy pre-sliced commercial cheeses processed with aluminum salts. Only hand-sliced cheeses.
Taco
I usually use the fish from my finished fish stock to make these delicious fish tacos!
Chicken and turkey are also good (beef is not).
The broth is already pretty torn apart when you take it off the bones.
So all you have to do to make the tacos is pat the meat dry with a clean cotton towel, place it in a medium-sized pot, add a little extra virgin olive oil and taco seasoning, and heat through.
I serve my tacos on sourdough (or sprouted) tortillas and use a sweet chili sauce as a seasoning.
pet food
Homemade pet food is ideally 100% raw meat, but you can increase the amount by mixing in leftover meat broth and raw meat.
Thinly sliced meats soaked in a rich, gelatinous broth are also great for your pet's digestion!
