5 of our favourite frozen foods and what to make with them
Thea Everett
Food inflation is showing no signs of slowing down, and it’s far cheaper to shop for many items in the frozen food section than the fresh. Frozen food has nutrients, texture and flavour locked in at the point of freezing, so it’s a good option, especially if money is tight. We’ve brought together our favourite frozen foods: spinach, peas, sweetcorn, pastry and fish, along with 4 of the best recipes to try with each of them.
Batch-cooking saves money on fuel too, which a freezer comes in really handy for, as few people like to eat the same dinner every night for a week… If forward planning is your jam and you’re on the hunt for freezable recipes, we can help there too.
The best frozen foods to buy
Many foods see their texture deteriorate over time and are often best purchased frozen rather than fresh: peas, broad beans, fresh greens like spinach and protein such as fish. They’re all brilliant ingredients that actually benefit from being frozen because the ice acts as a lock to keep in all that goodness.
Similarly, freezing pastry does it no harm at all, and puff and filo pastries are brilliant standbys. We’ve brought together a few of our favourite recipes to make with the best frozen products to help you save money on your food shopping.
Is frozen food less nutritious?
Food often has a long journey from when it’s picked to when it ends up on your plate, and sometimes some of the nutrients degrade during that time. But freezing and modern transport methods mean food can be frozen just minutes or hours after harvest, and the more quickly this happens, the more the nutrients, flavours and textures can be preserved inside vegetables.
If freezing fish or meat is done quickly too, the results can be good. A lot of fish are frozen at sea or soon after being caught, and this locks in nutrients – look out for ‘frozen at sea’ messaging on packaging when you buy.
Our favourite recipes with frozen spinach
Spinach, pine nut and dill tart
This spinach, pine nut and dill tart is a beauty. You wouldn’t know it was made with the frozen stuff plus ready-rolled shortcrust which might have been in your freezer, too? Thank goodness for ice.
This spinach rotolo looks mightily impressive and is a hearty, Italian comfort food dish. The potato gnocchi dough means it’s really filling, and the sage brings loads of flavour. Serve with cheese at the table.
Freezer-friendly chicken tikka masala
This genius recipe feeds four, and not only uses frozen spinach but frozen ginger and onion too. Less chopping, more chilling. Using lots of freezer staples means this is a brilliant dish to whip together last minute.
Sausage spaghetti with spinach pesto
This 30 minute meal is full of flavour. Use frozen spinach in the pesto and serve with fried sausagemeat and any pasta shape of your choosing.
Our favourite recipes with frozen peas
Salmon with gnocchi, peas and broad beans
Frozen peas and broad beans are used in this excellent gnocchi recipe, which is all made in one oven dish. It’s a mere two-step recipe and once you’ve tried it you’ll add it to your weekly rotation, we know it.
This 30 minute meal takes the creamy sauce of carbonara and makes it that little bit better for you with the additions of frozen peas and crispy kale.
Peas in a quiche offer a pleasing burst of sweetness. Try them in this inexpensive and easy midweek meal.
This wonderfully thick Venetian soup heroes peas and gets oomph from grated grana padano and parma ham to make a satisfying bowl.
Our favourite recipes with frozen fish
A fish stew is a lovely thing, and this one is made with frozen fish pie mix and a can of chickpeas to make it filling. It’s lifted with lemon and herbs and we want to eat it right now!
Yogurt and turmeric fish curry
Frozen fish works wonderfully in curries like this turmeric and yogurt dish, which is effortless and doesn’t require many ingredients beyond what you’ll have in your storecupboard, actually.
Low-energy poached pollock with aromatic spices
Passive cooking is the term used to describe dishes that are made using the residual heat after food spends a short time on the hob, meaning it’s helpful for those wishing to eat more sustainably or more affordably. Try this dish which sees the pollock fillets gently poached in coconut milk packed with aromatics until they’re cooked to perfection.
This update on the classic fish pie can be made with frozen fish pie mix, with gochujang adding a fiery, salty and sweet tang to this colourful dish. Topped with velvety sweet potato mash and crispy black sesame seeds, it’s a little bit good for you too!
Our favourite recipes with frozen sweetcorn
We enjoy the word ‘kernels’, and the golden nuggets of corn are put to great use in these corn fritters. It doesn’t have to be sweetcorn season to enjoy corn fritters when you have a bag of frozen corn in the freezer! Serve with rocket, soured cream and red pepper jam with lime wedges to squeeze over.
Spinach, pea and sweetcorn filo pie
This triple whammy of a dish uses frozen spinach, peas and sweetcorn along with feta and eggs for a filling, flavour-packed and nutritious meal that’s prepped in just 15 minutes.
This easy and inexpensive vegan chowder uses smoked paprika and coconut milk for plenty of flavour. Serve hot, scattered with the spring onions, coriander and a wedge of lime to garnish.
This comforting vegetarian brunch dish uses few ingredients and is hearty enough to see you through the day. Of course, the recipe would work well for lunch or dinner, too.
Our favourite recipes with frozen pastry
Rhubarb and custard Portuguese tarts
Frozen pastry can be used in these rhubarb and custard Portuguese tarts, which are a hit with anyone with a sweet-tooth, believe us.
This delightful galette is versatile and gorgeous to look at. It makes the most of frozen peas and broad beans, and can be served for lunch or dinner.
This fab mushroom and leek filo pie can be made with sheets of filo from your freezer, just defrost well before using. It’s an impressive vegetarian main that’s also good for you.
Roasted cauliflower cheese pie
Frozen puff pastry can be used for any pie you like, and we love it in these individual burnished cauliflower cheese pies. They’re irresistible after a brisk walk, or anytime.
The other great thing about the freezer is its capacity to preserve homecooked meals to be enjoyed at a future date, of course. Find all our freezable recipes here.
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