Are you wondering what to do with leftover fish? From fish soup to fish tacos, these leftover fish recipes will make you excited to have fish leftovers.
I cook fish quite often but rarely have leftover fish. My husband and two oldest children like fish so much that they usually polish off whatever fish I have cooked for dinner. And if they don’t finish it off for dinner, they will eat the leftovers for breakfast or lunch the next day. The only time I have leftover fish is when my neighbor goes salmon fishing and brings me back salmon steaks so large they don’t fit in a 13 x 9 pan and even then it goes fast! I have to act fast if I want to experiment with leftover fish recipes for dinner the next day. So I turned to my friends and asked them for their favorite recipes that could be adapted to include leftover fish.
Few of the recipes below actually call for leftover cooked fish. I am sharing them to inspire you. If you match the flavors of your leftover fish to the flavors used in one of the following recipes you can cut down on the time it takes to make dinner. When you use fish leftovers in these recipes, add it when the recipe calls for the cooked fish to be added to the other ingredients or as the final step and cook until just heated through.
I often start with one of these fish recipes and then use the leftovers in one of the recipes below.
25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas
Fish Soup Recipes:
It is easy to use leftover cooked fish in soup recipes. You save time since the leftover fish is already cooked. Just add the leftover fish as the last step and cook until the fish is heated through.
Portuguese Traditional Fish Soup
Rustic Tomato & Coconut Fish Soup
Fish Pasta Recipes:
Fish leftovers work well in hot or cold pasta salads. Assemble the pasta salad and then add the cooked fish. Toss to coat and then serve or chill for later.
The (Not Barefoot) Contessa’s Fish Pasta
Fish Salad Recipes:
April of 21st Century Housewife says she uses leftover salmon in salads. Here are a few fish salad recipes that could easily be adapted to include leftover fish.
Salmon and Blueberry Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Salmon, Potato, and Green Bean Salad
Fish Taco Recipes:
My husband and father enjoy fish tacos. You can stretch leftover fish taco recipes by adding beans, tomatoes, and/or corn in place of some of the fish called for in the recipe if you wish.
Mexican Salmon Quesadillas with Avocado Cream Sauce
Use Leftover Cooked Fish to make Fish Patties
Leah from Simplistic Savings says she uses leftover salmon or trout to make patties. She didn’t have a recipe, but this Baked Tilapia Cake Recipe from Miz Helen would make a great base for creating fish patties out of leftover fish. As would this Panko Salmon Cakes Recipe or this Chipotle Salmon Corn Cakes recipe from Shirley at Gluten Free Easily.
Use Leftover Fish to Make Fish and Rice Bowls
I like to combine leftover rice, leftover fish, and either cooked vegetables, fresh greens, or berries to make a fish and rice bowl. Sometimes I substitute pasta or quinoa for the rice. Then I choose a salad dressing and drizzle it over the top.
How do you like to use leftover fish? Or are you like me and rarely have any leftover fish.
sarah says
What a great idea, I will sure have to try some of these awesome recipes
Ann says
I baked a large whole Dover sole and had plenty of leftovers. The fish already had so much flavor from being baked. So I tossed the fish with mayo, green onion, homemade mayo (light olive oil), lemon juice, Thai chilis, black pepper, celery seed, garlic powder and this amazing ingredient…wakame seaweed! I reconstituted it then minced it up very fine. Added a nice flavor and color! Plus it’s so healthy. Serve with lettuce wrap, as a sandwich, or with gourmet crackers. Heck, just eat it as is!
Blanched spinach would be a good substitute for the seaweed or maybe some cilantro or fresh parsley.
Lin says
Brilliant.
Love it!
'Becca says
Thanks for the new ideas! I don’t usually have leftover fish either, but when I do it’s good in Japanese Udon Noodle Soup or homemade sushi.
Jamie at Prepared to Eat says
Aww, thanks for including my tilapia taco recipe! Yes, leftover fish would be a great idea for that. Why didn’t I ever think of that? 🙂 I will have to save this list since leftover fish is one thing that often stumps me.
Judy @Savoring Today says
Thanks for including the Salmon Dill Chowder, you put together an inspiring list here for sure!
Miz Helen says
Hi Alea,
What a great idea, I will sure have to try some of these awesome recipes. Thank you so much for featuring my Southwest Tilapia Chowder and the Baked Tilapia Cakes, you are very kind.
Happy Valentine Day!
Miz Helen
Beth @Aunt B's kitchen says
Thanks for the mention and the link Alea. Much appreciated. 🙂