Remodeling frozen greens right into a facet or predominant dish that the children really wish to eat is usually a problem, however these 11 concepts are right here to assist. Study the very best methods to prepare dinner frozen greens for the very best taste, texture, and outcomes!
Are frozen veggies as nutritious as contemporary?
Let’s deal with this frequent query proper off the highest! Sure, they’re. They’re frozen on the peak of ripeness, so frozen veggies are literally typically extra nutritious than contemporary. Plus, there often isn’t something added to them so that you don’t want to fret about salt or different components.
Find out how to Cook dinner Frozen Greens
Serving frozen greens doesn’t must imply soggy, mushy veggies—and there are some strategies you possibly can depend on to make cooking them fast and straightforward. These strategies are those we use recurrently and ones you possibly can attempt to combine issues up for those who’re caught in a frozen veggie rut.
1. Roast Frozen Greens
You’ll be able to roast frozen greens together with broccoli, inexperienced beans, peppers, and cauliflower as you’ll contemporary greens. The strategy is similar to roasting contemporary, although you could want just a few further minutes to make sure you get all the liquid out.
This Roasted Broccoli is tender, a bit nutty, and a bit candy. Serve this as a easy facet to go along with dinner. Or make forward and heat all through the week to go along with lunches.
2. Steam or Saute
You’ll be able to steam or saute any frozen greens and sometimes there are directions for every sort on the bundle. To keep away from mushy veggies with both technique, strive to not overcook them and take away from the warmth as quickly as they’re warmed via and tender. We love Steamed Broccoli.
This fast Steamed Cauliflower is simple and scrumptious—and an ideal vegetable facet dish to share with the children. Use as a lot cauliflower as you could feed your loved ones. Retailer any raw florets in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
3. Mix into Soup
Including broccoli, cauliflower, and peas to blended soups like Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a straightforward means to make use of frozen veggies. You may also add corn to chili and mushrooms to Rooster Noodle Soup or Wild Rice Soup.
With plant-based protein, veggies, and cheese, this soup is an excellent method to serve up wholesome consolation meals to the entire household. (Tailored from FamilyFun journal.)
4. Stir into Pasta
You’ll be able to add peas to Pesto Pasta, broccoli to Sausage Pasta, cauliflower to Marinara Sauce, and mushrooms to alfredo or marinara sauce; You’ll be able to mix butternut squash or candy potato into marinara sauce, too.
This vivid inexperienced pesto is tacky and delicate, making it an ideal sauce for a fast dinner of pasta and peas!
5. Stir into Grains
Strive making Tacky Rice with Corn or stirring chopped frozen spinach into rice. (My one yr outdated beloved rice with spinach and cheese!)
This Tacky Rice recipe has 4 choices so as to add in veggies and has been a staple of my household’s food regimen for just a few years now. It is SO straightforward and versatile—and shops splendidly within the fridge. And it is downright delish!
6. Cook dinner in a Simmer Sauce
Simmering frozen cauliflower, candy potato, or peas in an Indian Simmer Sauce like tikka masala, or including just a few cups of cauliflower florets to Butter Rooster or tomato sauce is a good way so as to add extra veggies to a meal.
Overlook takeout—ship this standard Indian dish to your desk as a substitute. Shredded hen thighs are coated in a wealthy, buttery sauce with hints of tomatoes, ginger, and garam masala—a messy however very flavorful finger meals. Tailored from The Multi-Cooker Child Meals Cookbook.
7. Add to Eggs
Virtually any frozen veggie pairs properly with eggs, so strive including them to an omelet, Egg Muffins, or a frittata. I desire to thaw the greens in heat water, pat them dry, then chop them up earlier than including them to egg recipes to ensure they aren’t too moist.
These mini Spinach Egg Muffins combine up in minutes and are one in all our go-to straightforward meals. They’re filled with iron and protein, and you can also make them forward and stash them within the fridge till you want them for the children.
8. Use in Savory Pancakes
Including frozen corn, blended veggies, chopped broccoli, or cauliflower to Savory Pancakes (with or with out cheese) is a yummy and surprising meal thought. We like these with salsa or ketchup, although you possibly can select one other dipping sauce for those who desire.
We like these dipped in bitter cream guacamole, salsa, or Cucumber Sauce.
9. Add to Smoothies
Frozen cauliflower and avocado might be added on to smoothies. They each add vitamins and creaminess with out including any veggie taste.
With easy components, six taste variations, and one straightforward technique, this Strawberry Smoothie recipe is a nutritious breakfast or snack.
10. Serve with a Dip
Plan frozen veggies style higher served with a dipping sauce like Peanut Sauce, pizza sauce, salsa, BBQ, ranch, ketchup, or tahini. I like utilizing frozen cauliflower in my straightforward Cheese Sauce after which serving it with extra steamed frozen veggies.
Excellent for dipping and dunking veggies, this recipe makes sufficient for 2-3 servings, so you possibly can retailer any leftovers within the fridge in an hermetic container. Reheat it for 15-30 seconds within the microwave to serve. You may also toss any leftovers with pasta for a fast and wholesome mac and cheese.
11. Mix into Mac and Cheese
Frozen cauliflower works properly in Cauliflower Mac and Cheese and frozen butternut squash works properly in Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.
With a easy cheese sauce—no standing and stirring over the range right here!—a stable dose of veggies, and a brilliant creamy ultimate outcome, this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a quick lunch or dinner choice for toddlers. (And the remainder of the household, too!)
Greatest Suggestions for Cooking Frozen Greens
- Keep away from cooking them too lengthy. Cease cooking as quickly as they’re warmed via and tender.
- Season to style with salt and butter or oil when cooking them on their very own.
- Serve with dipping sauces so as to add taste.
- Sprinkle shredded or grated cheese on plain cooked frozen veggies.
- Simmer in tomato sauce or one other simmer sauce.
- Mix into mac and cheese.
- Mix frozen cauliflower or avocado into smoothies.
- Add to eggs, omelets, egg muffins, and extra.
If I missed your favourite method to serve up frozen veggies, please remark beneath so as to add it to the record!
This submit was first revealed March 2020.
