Batch cooking for the freezer

[ColchesterFC]

I do a lot of batch cooking for the freezer but most of the meals I cook have beef mince in them - lasagne, cottage pie, chilli etc. Apart from chicken curry, which is pretty much my only non-mince freezer recipe, what else would you recommend to cook in bulk and freeze?

Any recipes or internet links gratefully received.

 

[Bdill93]

I do a lot of batch cooking for the freezer but most of the meals I cook have beef mince in them - lasagne, cottage pie, chilli etc. Apart from chicken curry, which is pretty much my only non-mince freezer recipe, what else would you recommend to cook in bulk and freeze?

Any recipes or internet links gratefully received.

Its not that dissimilar but I regularly make an "indian spiced" shepherds pie with lamb mince which would work well..

Spiced shepherd’s pie recipe | BBC Good Food

Our healthy, low-fat shepherd's pie can be popped in the freezer or enjoyed on the day. This budget-friendly meal uses storecupboard spices and frozen peas

www.bbcgoodfood.com

Top tip - bit of cheese goes very nicely on top and your call if you'd rather fully mash the potato or leave it clumpy.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My wife batch cooks stews, curries and soups all the time. Works out so much cheaper to make it in bulk, have a meal (or two) and store the rest. Plenty of recommendations and recipies online but what I may enjoy may not match your palette so I wouldn't make any direct recommendations

 

[Lord Tyrion]

A chicken casserole would fit the brief. Chuck it in the slow cooker, simple and easy. Isn't affected by freezing and defrosting.

We have a 1980's Good Housekeeping cook book which is great for this type of old school recipe. This is taken from their website https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a536379/chicken-casserole/ . Adjust to your own tastes etc.

 

[Backache]

Aubergine Parmigiana freezes well and is delicious, loads of different recipes out there. Here's one

How to make aubergine parmigiana – recipe | Felicity Cloake's masterclass

The definitive step-by-step guide to making the moreishly molten Italian aubergine dish that’s good as a starter, main course or side

www.theguardian.com

On a slightly different tack we frequently have a roast chicken and always turn the bones into stock and then freeze them to make the base of a fairly quick soup later. Turkey stock is even better after xmas.

 

[Backache]

I made an Oxtail stew recently which would probably freeze well slightly varied this recipe and added in a couple of chillis to give it a bit of a lift also some onions, secret is long slow cooking.

Oxtail stew recipe | Jamie Oliver soup and stew recipes

This epic oxtail stew recipe from Jamie Oliver shows you how to cook oxtails from scratch. It's a super-delicious cut of meat that just needs a bit of TLC.

www.jamieoliver.com

 

[jim8flog]

If you are doing stuff for the freezer, remember you are slow freezing it and it will only have a shelf life of about 3 months so do not overdo it.

Commercially available frozen foods are fast frozen hence the long shelf life.

 

[Backache]

I've frequently batch frozen chillis and had them a year later without obvious deterioration in taste.

 

[Maninblack4612]

I make Lamb Koftas & usually freeze the ones left over. I swear that, when defrosted & heated up they taste much better than the originals.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've frequently batch frozen chillis and had them a year later without obvious deterioration in taste.

We do that too. Always seem hotter once you have the 2nd or 3rd helping defrosted from the batch

 

[JT.]

Yes us too - chilli and spag Bol always tastes better the 2nd time around

 

[bobmac]

If I don't finish a bottle of wine, I'll pour the remains into an ice cube tray.

 

[patricks148]

the only things i do tend to be things my wife doesn't like:

so Chili, Paella and Spanish Chicken. i make enough for 4 and freeze stuff for another 3 meals

 

[KenL]

How about some more healthy veggie stuff?
Chick pea, potatoes, and cauliflower are all great for curry.
Jamie Oliver has a super veg chilli recipe with sweet potato and parsnip.

 

[BiMGuy]

Personally I prefer to cook from scratch.

But, I do have some base sauce in the freezer for curries and tomato based dishes which I’ve made and use rather than jars. Stuff that takes too long to make from scratch every time.

 

[Crow]

Big multi use pasta sauce:

4 or 5 onions, a couple of carrots, 3 or 4 sticks of celery, all chopped small and put on a low heat with a dash of soy sauce and mixed herbs.
While that's softening for 10 or 15 minutes, dice 3 peppers, grate 3 carrots crush several garlic cloves and add those to the mix and low heat for another 10 mins or so.

Add two tins chopped tomatoes, 1 or 2 cartons of passata, tin of chick peas, load more herbs, worcestershire sauce, red wine if any knocking around, chilli powder or chopped chillis, plus anything else that takes your fancy.
Slow heat for another 10 or 15 mins and you're done.

Other possible additions:
Finely chopped mushrooms
Fried green beans
Fried bits of bacon and/or sausage
In fact whatever you like

 

[KenL]

Big multi use pasta sauce:

4 or 5 onions, a couple of carrots, 3 or 4 sticks of celery, all chopped small and put on a low heat with a dash of soy sauce and mixed herbs.
While that's softening for 10 or 15 minutes, dice 3 peppers, grate 3 carrots crush several garlic cloves and add those to the mix and low heat for another 10 mins or so.

Add two tins chopped tomatoes, 1 or 2 cartons of passata, tin of chick peas, load more herbs, worcestershire sauce, red wine if any knocking around, chilli powder or chopped chillis, plus anything else that takes your fancy.
Slow heat for another 10 or 15 mins and you're done.

Other possible additions:
Finely chopped mushrooms
Fried green beans
Fried bits of bacon and/or sausage
In fact whatever you like

Soy sauce.

 

[chellie]

Soy sauce.

Yes, makes it really tasty.

 

[BrianM]

Personally I prefer to cook from scratch.

But, I do have some base sauce in the freezer for curries and tomato based dishes which I’ve made and use rather than jars. Stuff that takes too long to make from scratch every time.

Good old base sauce

 

[Doon frae Troon]

We make buckets of spag bol and veg soup on a pretty regular basis.
Our family love my wife's spag boll so it is always handy for an unexpected meal.
Veg soup great for light lunch.