I went out with a friend last night to India’s Pearl and wanted to try something new. I chose Bhindi Masala – okra cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices. I envisioned something akin to the wonderful vegetable casserole dish I had while with my parents in Istanbul. What I got was a dish so salty that I couldn’t even eat it.

In questioning the waiter about it, he advised me that the dish is supposed to be salty and that Indian food uses a lot of exotic spices. I’m a big fan of exotic spices and have frequented my fair share of Indian buffets. However, I had never experienced this level of saltiness.

Rather than throw the leftovers away, my friend suggested “watering” the leftovers down by making a soup out of them. So that’s what I ate for dinner tonight.

First, I added two cups of water and one cup of vegetable broth. Then I added a 28-oz can of stewed tomatoes, a cup of cooked lentils and a 1/2 cup of red quinoa. The results were outstanding. I didn’t need to add an ounce of additional spices, let alone salt.

So before leaving your leftovers on the table and wasting both food and money, consider how you might be able to take a fresh spin on them.  The results might surprise you.

Side note: If you try visiting India’s Pearl and don’t like a lot of salt, ask your waiter for light salt in advance!