Home cooking for dogs is really nothing new, as evidenced by an old Dutch “dog cookbook” I was given recently that provides a recipe for a Hutsel Frutsel: “Use any suitable leftovers you can find. (…) Use a portion of hutsel to liven up a boring meal.” Whilst we might have learned more about ingredients since, it sounds like what I’d call a topping!
Healthy toppings can be made from odds and ends, with the help of some staples from the World Dog Pantry. Most of the recipes here are based on a stock or broth of some kind and include fresh vegetables and/or protein. They might be leftovers, but they’re still functional foods that support gut health and can help with hydration. They are palatable, cheap and easy to make and can be frozen in batches. What’s not to like?
Tuna and Vegetable topping
Tuna glut... You might be wondering why tuna has appeared in so many recipes recently. Tuna wouldn’t normally feature in the Thrifty Cook category but this week it would have been eligible – for us, in any case. Needless [...]
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Fish broth topping with green beans
This fish broth topping with green beans is a cheap and cheerful recipe that goes down very well and can be made from ready to hand, fresh and frozen ingredients. It doesn't take much time, and these ingredients aren't just [...]
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Sad veg and hemp topping
This recipe for a "sad veg" topping is a great idea for using up fridge leftovers. Not being as well-organised as some, ingredients aren't purchased in this house on the basis of a weekly meal plan. Which means that, from [...]
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Fishy freekeh topping
Fishy freekeh This topping uses up some poached salmon and fish stock from the freezer, so it's "double fish". I must admit, I get great satisfaction from creating toppings that use up leftovers. It's so rewarding, making something that doesn't [...]
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Beef, cauliflower and pumpkin topping
Beef, cauliflower and pumpkin We are lucky enough to be given a lot of beef bones from time to time, which means we have a constant supply of quality beef broth. Good beef bones with bone marrow make an [...]
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Sprouted Split Pea and Vegetable topping
Sprouted Split Pea and Vegetable topping This is a great Care and Share combination if you like an Indian dahl. You can cook everything at the same time, or cook the topping a day later. Sprouted Split Pea and [...]
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Mackerel topping
Mackerel topping Definitely one for the thrifty dog cook! Maybe not quite as cheap these days as in Shakespeare's time, but still an inexpensive and nutritious ingredient. "You may buy land now as cheap as stinking mackerel" Falstaff, Henry IV [...]
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Chicken, cabbage, carrot and tuna broth topping
Most toppings are what they call "Lick the Bowl" recipes and Georgie is an appreciative hound. But this chicken, veg and tuna topping is up there in the lick-the-bowl-clean-and-take-the-pattern-with-it category! Dashi remouillage I needed a topping and had forgotten to [...]
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