Have you managed to make frozen veggies delicious? Some, like broccoli or spinach, aren’t the problem but others like zucchini or carrots? Other than soups or smoothies, is there any way to prepare them so that they’re not a soggy chewy mess?
Bell peppers and onions freeze super well. It’s nice because then you can add just as much as you need when cooking. They do not need to be defrosted beforehand, I just put them from the freezer onto the pan.
My favorite meals for these two vegetables are to add them to a quesadilla, pasta, chilli, on top of a hamburger, and in soups like chicken noodle.
I always throw my frozen veggies in with my teriyaki beef bowls or any Filipino dish I can make. Now granted they are soaked by the time I throw them in any sauce cuz they are in sauce, but I have after microwaving them put them in a napkin and kinda just squeezed a little moisture out with a paper towel. It helps a little somewhat for the dampness for me or just letting them thaw out for a bit so that there isn’t sooo much moisture before you cook them as well. Again place those bad boys on a paper towel while they thaw and it’ll soak up some of the moisture.
Adding frozen spinach to spaghetti, lasagna, and other pasta dishes
Adding broccoli to macaroni and cheese (and cracked black pepper)
Frozen cauliflower can be added to potato soup and mashed potatoes, shepherds pie, etc.
Any frozen vegetable added to stir fry or egg and veg scramble
I use frozen spinach & broccoli for later in the week when the fresh stuff runs out, but before my next grocery shopping. Other frozen vegetables are ones we found for specific recipes, like we have some frozen corn because it goes well with a quesadilla that we make.
I get frozen brussel sprouts, thaw them in the nuker, slice in half, mix with a little olive oil and bake until brown and crispy, pretty good. I avoid frozen broccoli and cauliflower, get fresh for that.
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Peace
Celery for soups. As I can only buy it in big bunches there is always loads left over so I chop it up and bang it in the freezer for next time. Saves a lot of waste.
I know not a vegetable but I also do this with coconut milk for the same reason.
:)
This may be a digression but frozen food technology has improved so much over the last 20 years that frozen veg is often as good or better than the “fresh” stuff (think of corn that grows starchy sitting in the fresh food isle). Another example is frozen peas - back in the day they used to be these grey mushy (or hard) pellets that tasted terrible - they now taste incredible compared to the hit-or-miss bags in the produce section.
It’s best not to overcook frozen veg - gentle heat is your friend.
Now get off my lawn.
Frozen broccoli, cauliflower, carrot mixes do great in oven at high temp 425 with olive oil. Or in the air fryer. Artichoke hearts In the air fryer. Frozen Corn can be heated on the stovetop. And smaller cut mixed vegetables are good on stove or mixed with rice or quinoa
The Green Giant Valley Blends Asian Blend is my favorite right now! It comes in a green bag and takes 5 minutes to heat up in a saucepan with some butter. I usually mix it with quinoa and maybe add some salmon for protein.
I just steam them in a silicone steamer in the microwave. When they are done I add some butter and salt, and sometimes some seasonings
That’s when I’m being lazy and don’t want to chop and prep veg. Usually I just use frozen veg in things that it won’t be apparent, like a casserole or soup