Easy way to use up frozen veg?

[EachandEveryone]

Im not a fan really but i got a new freezer now i have frozen cauli spinach and peppers. I have no meat in and dont really want to go shopping. I have tins of lentils and beans plus coconut milk. Ive never cooked with frozen before do you just put it in at the end? Can you tell and will it make sauces too watery. Any good curry recipes? Or chilli. Im trying to be good and pre cook for work.

I would cook spinach separately to get the excess water out but I would do this with fresh spinach too.

If you've got spices, onion and garlic in you've got all the makings of a gorgeous curry or daal!

I prefer letting the veg thaw out a bit and chucking it in near the end, to get it warmed through and get the flavours through. Peppers in particular can get a bit mushy so leave them to later.

Caramelise your onions (really caramelise them if you can be bothered as it adds sooo much depth!), add garlic, ginger if you have any. Then spices, fry for a minute or so. A tin of tomatoes if you have one (cook most of the liquid off) but not necessary. Tin of coconut milk, mix. Then your frozen veg and lentils. Simmer. Mmm!

Oh that sounds lovely

If you do this, on second thought, do lentils (washed) before the frozen veg and only pop the veg in once the lentils have softened. I make this quite often, garam masala, cumin and chilli powder work well but really any spices you like will do :)

Im just caramelising the onions. I have got a jar of curry paste so may use that.

I pretty much never buy fresh vegetables as they go off before I get round to using them.

Frozen veg are useless for defrosting and eating as is, you do need fresh for that, but they are excellent for everything else!

I use them for stir fries, soups, casseroles/stews, curries, chilli, pasta sauces...

Oh also, coconut milk + curry paste, caramelised onions, peppers, lentils, cauliflower and spinach would make a lovely curry 👍

Yes, it was lovely! Now theres too much Ill be eating it for two weeks😃 I par roasted a chopped potato and sweet potato sprinkled with curry powder first and added that. Omitted cauli as i couldnt fit it in the pan 😃

Ohhh that looks gorgeous!

Any other ideas? I don’t want to do curry again for next week. I need something else that I can just take to work and we can add some meat now

If you have rice just whack it all into a risotto.

Stir fry?
I make a gorgeous stir fry with onion and garlic, carrot and celery if I have it and then whatever frozen veg I have - peppers, peas, mushrooms etc.
Add hard veg like carrot, brocolli etc first.
Things like mushrooms and peas go last.
When all the veg is cooked I add soy sauce, honey, chilli flake and ginger.
I’m afraid I can’t give you measurements as I’m a non measuring, bung it in and hope for the best chef
Chilli flake is really spicy so start small with that.
Could add roasted chicken or beef or any other meat to it too

Frozen veg is nice in a chilli con carne too, or in sausage casserole.

The hairy bikers sausage casserole recipe is divine, I don’t normally have bacon in the house so I omit that, but i bet it’s delicious and I use whisky instead of the red wine they suggest.

Again, not sure of the measurement as I just slosh it in, guesstimate 2, maybe 3 shots

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/great_sausage_casserole_73010/amp

Could use the frozen veg in lamb tagine, I make that a lot too.
Chopped tomatoes or passata, onion and garlic, carrot and celery if you have it, lamb mince, dried fruit which would ideally be apricots, prunes and sultanas but I just use savers sultanas, can of chickpeas, cinnamon, cumin, chilli flake plus any frozen veg.