Frozen mixed veg - what was I thinking?

[Lordfrontpaw]

So we picked up a bag of mixed frozen veg yesterday and I put it in the fridge as we were going to steam them to have with dinner last night. We changed plans so I decided to make a veg lasagne with it today.

I’ve made the red bit of the lasagne (with onions, tomatoes, the mixed veg and herbs). It doesn’t smell nice at all - just like a tin of tomatoes - I can’t smell anything else at all. It smells pretty awful actually.

I’m not sure if I need to add something, just make the lasagne as usual and hope for the best or throw it out.

Any ideas?

Frozen veg is watery nothing most of the time I'm afraid so it's not going to work very well in a lasagne plus the texture will be odd. I'd normally use something with a bit of ooomph so squash / aubergine / mushrooms.

Can you just blitz it and use it as a pasta sauce / base for soup / risotto?

I think you’re right. I was hoping you wouldn’t be! This is what happens when I listen to DH (who never cooks!). I think I will zizz it up and freeze it for pasta sauce base and pizza topping!

They're best cooked directly from frozen. If you thaw them out and leave them to 'sit' they seem to go a bit bland & whiffy.

Long slow cooking will really really help - over a low heat on the hob or in the oven at 120. Add teaspoon of cocoa powder or chocolate too.

You aren’t wrong there! They were expensive (from a wanky organic shop that I have to queue for ages to get through the door) soon was be buggered if I was going to let them go to waste!

Chocolate you say?

Chocolate or a sprinkle of cinnamon in a lasagne sauce is lovely.

They're alright in egg fried rice, would barely cook them first though.

Bad idea... I’m almost glad that some shops are starting to say ‘one shopper per household’. I really fancied lasagne too!

Red wine, an oxo, shake of Worcestershire sauce.

For the meaty part of the lasagne.

I’m veggie! I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never made anything so awful that I couldn’t eat it myself 😢🤨😆

Ok reporting back. So I made up the lasagnes with a very cheesy cheese sauce and breadcrumbs on the top - and they were actually ok - not brilliant but what isn’t improved with the addition of cheese sauce (or pastry for that matter).

So not a complete flop but I wouldn’t repeat the exercise unless desperate!