How to cook frozen veggies so they are edible

  • I love roasted fresh veggies, but with my favorites going out of season (cauliflower, green beans, asparagus), I'm stuck with buying more affordable frozen. However, I hate them steamed - they taste...mushy (I know that means they steamed too long, but I just think they are bland and icky even when they aren't mushy).

    Is there another way I can prepare them? Can you "roast" frozen veggies?
  • You can't ever "crisp up" frozen vegetables, but you can roast them. They don't carmelize in the same way, and they do have a softer texture than fresh. My two favorite ways to make frozen veggies are

    Open frozen bag, splash in a little olive or walnut oil, and seasonings (sometimes ranch dressing powder, or may favorite teriyaki sauce) and shake in the bag, and roast at 375 to 400.

    or add frozen veggies to a bowl, and add favorite vinaigrette dressing. Cover bowl and refrigerate alllowing veggies to marinate and thaw. I also like to add a couple of the following before or after thawing, doesn't matter: diced onion, olives, canned or pickled mushrooms, pickled yellow pepper rings, artichoke hearts (canned, frozen or pickled), canned beets, canned or pickled baby corn.
  • Great ideas colleen. I don't mind frozen peas, corn, or spinach, but I think the rest are kind of icky. I'll have to try them this way.
  • I like to stirfry my veggies, but my favorite frozen ones are now broccoli, green beans and artichokes. Also try the winter greens sauteed with garlic and red pepper flakes.
  • I never thought of roasting frozen veggies. I will try them tonight.
    Thanks... i was getting sick of mushy and bland.

    Cat'
  • I make soup out of frozen cauliflower.. I just fry a large onion in some PAM, add some red pepper flakes, cook until the onion becomes semi-translucent, add some salt and pepper and a small can of tomato sauce, cook the onions a little in the tomato sauce and then add the frozen cauliflower. (I'll use two of the small 6"x6" size boxes).. Cook until well cooked/soft. It's a really easy soup and tastes awesome.

    Frozen peas and carrots also do pretty well.. The frozen peas are actually a lot crisper than canned - which I never use. I'll add the frozen peas to rice dishes.