Frozen produce is often cheaper than fresh, can be stored longer, and there’s no waste: ideal for keeping costs down as well as making it easier to plan meals. It’s usually quicker to prepare too. Read on to find out how you can use frozen ingredients to make satisfying meals that are packed with flavour.
1. Pea and mint soup

This colourful soup doesn’t need many ingredients, is low in fat and salt, and can easily be made vegan by leaving out the yogurt. Easy peas-y! It’s made with frozen peas, but you can still freeze the finished soup – why not make a double batch for the freezer?
2. Baked biryani chicken and rice

This easy-to-cook curry uses frozen vegetables alongside fresh ingredients, and its low fat and salt content means you don’t have to miss out on a takeaway favourite, even if you’re keeping an eye on your heart health (and your waistline). The fresh onion and garlic in this recipe could also be swapped for frozen.
3. Special vegetarian stir-fried rice

For an easy meal that’s full of colour and vitality, try this simple recipe. It’s made using a variety of frozen vegetables and you can easily swap in, or add, other leftover vegetables that you might have available. If you’d like to make it even more filling, you can add in a beaten egg when stirring in the rice.
4. Seafood paella

For a flavourful seafood dish without the expense, try this paella recipe which uses frozen peas and seafood. The addition of spices and fresh lemon or lime for serving gives fantastic flavour to the frozen ingredients.
5. Mixed vegetable and bean soup

One-pot cooking at its best – our recipe for vegetable and bean soup uses mixed frozen vegetables to cut down on preparation time, making this wholesome and filling dish quick to make. Heart healthy and suitable for vegans, this soup ticks all the boxes!
6. Green vegetable frittata

This recipe will help you to increase your vegetable intake without the hassle. Frozen green vegetables work well in this frittata, and the reduced-fat cheese topping means it’s full of flavour and heart-healthy too.
7. Spiced vegetable couscous

For a colourful meal that’s kind to your heart, this spiced vegetable couscous hits the spot. The addition of ground coriander and cumin transform the frozen ingredients into an aromatic and warming dish that’s wholesome enough to eat on colder days. It’s also dairy and meat free, making it suitable for vegans.
8. Pear and raspberry crumble
This recipe for pear and raspberry crumble uses frozen raspberries or blackberries, which reduces the cost without compromising the taste. We’ve made this comforting dessert healthier by using unsaturated fat spread to make the crumble topping.
9. Very berry trifle

A classic dessert made cost-effective, this trifle is made with frozen berries instead of fresh, and white bread instead of sponge cake. We’ve also swapped the traditional cream topping for yogurt, making it healthier and cheaper all-round.
10. Summer pudding
This is a delicious, fruity pudding made for the English summer. The recipe uses frozen mixed fruit such as raspberries, loganberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants to give it a sweet and tangy filling. The outside is made of wholemeal bread without the crusts, and no butter is used at all which keeps it low in fat, saturates, sugar and salt.
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