Frozen Mixed Vegetables Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

How do you spruce up frozen mixed vegetables? ›

Add butter or oil. Add frozen mixed vegetables and cover the pan to create steam. Cook for 4-5 minutes or so until the veggies are cooked through and tender. Add seasoning(s) of choice and extra add-ins like parmesan cheese, lemon juice, soy sauce, balsamic, etc.

Acidic ingredients like lemon or vinegar, fats like butter and olive oil, spicy condiments like chile flakes or hot sauce, savory ingredients like cheese, bacon and nuts and fresh and dried herbs are all your friends when it comes to frozen vegetables.

Roast them in a hot oven at 450 degrees. The hot temperature helps the extra moisture on the frozen vegetables evaporate quickly so they can brown and roast. Preheat the baking sheet in the oven so it is hot when you add the vegetables. This also helps remove moisture quickly, ensuring the veggies aren't soggy.

As with most foods, frozen vegetables can be thawed in the refrigerator. To avoid condensation dripping onto other foods, Jen Bruning, MS RDM LDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says to place the packaged vegetables in a container when thawing.

I often use the trick with bags of my favorite vegetables. Just toss them in a quick combination of spices—I like a mix of garlic powder, paprika, salt, freshly ground pepper, and cumin—top with spoonfuls of sour cream and grated cheddar cheese, and roast until the vegetables are hot and the cheese is melted.

Use seasonings

Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, and chili powder can be used in different combinations to give your vegetables an extra kick of flavor without adding extra calories.

Seasoning Ideas for Frozen Vegetables

For seasonings, I mostly use just salt, pepper, and granulated garlic for a basic roasted veggie seasoning. For cauliflower, I usually add a pinch of red pepper flakes and dried thyme to the mix. With asparagus, I like to add red pepper flakes and fresh lemon zest.

To salvage an accidentally frozen vegetable, if you use it in a cooked dish, most of the time no one will know. Use frozen peppers in ratatouille or tomato sauce or stuff them as you would fresh peppers. Frozen cabbage works well in soup and stuffed cabbage.

Shull recommends roasting your veggies for 30 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and tossing every 10 minutes or so to help them cook evenly. One more trick: Try roasting vegetables of a similar size and density, such as broccoli and cauliflower florets or peas and carrot kernels.

Step 2: Preheat the Baking Sheet With Oil

By the time the oven is up to temp, you'll have a hot pan ready for roasting. This way, the second your frozen broccoli or beans hit the metal surface, they'll defrost rapidly and avoid the soggy texture frozen vegetables acquire if they start to steam.

How to cook frozen veggies so they are not mushy? ›

First, pick a frozen vegetable then preheat your oven to 400°F. Add your still-frozen vegetables (with absolutely nothing on them—Liz says adding oil at this stage will actually trap in the moisture, causing soggy veggies) to a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes.

Frozen vegetables are already full of moisture, and boiling them adds even more. This results in water-logged, mushy veggies that won't be much fun to eat. Plus, boiling can cause some of the nutrients to seep out. Instead, steam or microwave the vegetables with a tablespoon or two of water.

First, pick a frozen vegetable then preheat your oven to 400°F. Add your still-frozen vegetables (with absolutely nothing on them—Liz says adding oil at this stage will actually trap in the moisture, causing soggy veggies) to a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes.