The Simplest Way To Turn A Frozen Veggie Medley Into Dinner

Although we all wish we could make dinner from scratch every night, sometimes it is simply impossible due to the demands of work and other aspects of life. But the lack of time does not mean you must eat out or order in to get a healthy and filling meal. With a pack of frozen vegetables and some other simple ingredients in the pantry, you can make filling, vegetable-forward dishes that are both delicious and nutritious.

You can find frozen vegetables in almost any market, from giant warehouses like Costco to your local mom-and-pop grocery stores. Most contain a specific type of vegetable, such as spinach and corn, but many are medleys of multiple veggies packed together. Among the most common is a mix containing diced carrots, corn kernels, and snippets of green beans, although there are many other variations depending on the store you're visiting.

One of the easiest ways to use frozen vegetables is to mix them with grains such as rice (of which there are many types) to create an easy rice pilaf. Not only does it make for a nutritious dinner, but it is also a recipe that can adapt to almost anything you have in the kitchen, making this a great way to utilize the odds and ends inside your fridge.

First, dice up a medium-sized onion (or the white part of several scallions) into small pieces, and mince a couple of cloves of garlic if you have some on hand. Sauté them in olive oil inside a wide, deep-sided pan over medium heat. Once the onions are softened, add in raw rice and toss to coat the grains with oil, and season with salt, pepper, and other spices you prefer. Next, once the rice is slightly toasted but not burnt, add water or broth to the pan. 

You can use any broth in the pantry, although chicken or vegetable broth are the most common options. Stir, cover, and wait for it to boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the frozen vegetable medley and mix thoroughly, and cover and simmer for a further 10 minutes until the vegetables are heated, and the rice is cooked. Adjust the seasoning and your vegetable rice pilaf is ready to eat.

If you have cooked rice on hand, another way to easily incorporate frozen vegetable medleys into your meal is by making fried rice. First, mince some garlic, scallion, ginger, or whatever aromatics you have on hand, and fry them in a deep-sided pot (or a wok if you happen to have one) with neutral oil. Add in the frozen vegetable medley and fry until it is heated through. Meanwhile, crumble your leftover rice with your hands so the grains will easily separate during frying. 

Add the rice into the pot, mix it vigorously with the vegetables, and keep stirring to prevent sticking. Add in soy sauce, chili paste, sesame oil, and other seasoning to taste, and your vegetable fried rice is ready to eat. Optionally, you can add in beaten eggs when adding the rice to add some protein to the dish or add cubed leftover meat from the fridge. If you find yourself craving something different, here are 10 creative rice dishes you can try.