The cooler weather has finally arrived in New York City! As a born and bred Canadian, I love cold weather. I love when Summer ends and Fall begins. I love warm sweaters and falling leaves and slow-cooked stews for dinner. As a full-time working mom of a 3-year old, I’m always thinking about our weekly meal plan. Who has time to cook every night during the week, right? I totally agree, running out of the office, catching a bus up Madison Avenue, rushing to daycare, and getting dinner on the table on time is a small marathon everyday. But as much as we love eating out in Manhattan, we try hard to eat home cooking everyday. There is something so satisfying about home cooking, even the most simplest dishes. Here is one trick I use: make a homemade dinner over the weekend and freeze it so you can easily defrost it during the week. Whether you’re a single guy in college or a working mother of 3, this can work for you.
Curries. Indian curries, Thai curries, South African curries, any curry you like. Just like spaghetti sauce and lasagna, most curries freeze and defrost extremely well. The truth is, not everything freezes well. Potatoes and carrots, for instance, once cooked, don’t freeze well. This means they don’t survive the defrosting process well, and end up mushy when the dish is reheated. So I avoid certain vegetables in curries when I plan on freezing them.
I have two winners for you, both are easy to make, even for beginners. Plus, they’re tummy warming and deeply satisfying on a cold evening after a long commute and day at work: Daddy’s Chicken Curry (without potatoes) and my Thai Peanut Chicken Curry. The best part is you can find all the ingredients in any local supermarket. Before we were married, when Sean was doing his PhD at living in a tiny student apartment, I would make huge batches of these curries and freeze them in individual Ziploc bags for him. Before leaving for campus in the morning, he would pull one out to defrost in the fridge — once he got home at the end of the day, all he would have to do is steam some rice or pick up some pita or naan bread on the way home, and quickly reheat his dinner. Sean would go through these “little frozen packets” (as his roommate Noah called them) so quickly that I couldn’t keep up!
Freezer recipes for Indian food.Idli. I usually make a big batch of idlis and freeze them. … Medu vadas. … I portion and freeze rice in small bags and when needed I take out a portion and add it to boiling water and wait until the rice separates and filter the water out. … Briyani. … Curries. … Rotis. … Pongal. … Chutneys.
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Idli. I usually make a big batch of idlis and freeze them. …
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Medu vadas. …
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I portion and freeze rice in small bags and when needed I take out a portion and add it to boiling water and wait until the rice separates and filter the water out. …
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Briyani. …
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Curries. …
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Rotis. …
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Pongal. …
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Chutneys.
Used well, a freezer can be a cook’s best friend, as useful as your oven and cook top. There is nothing more comforting after a long, hard day, than coming home to a delicious, homemade meal and these easy-to-freeze recipes do double-duty for your dinner now and later. This is a very useful thread for all those busy bees……. time saver for working parents, a lifesaver for new parents, perfect for hubby’s to whip up quick meals if wife’s on a long vacation to India or can even come handy on a lazy day. Shared here are few Indian dishes which can be made ahead and stored in freezer for upto a month. Also please share your ideas on freezing and preserving Indian food.
Here’s the Top 10 foods which freeze well and turns out pretty decent when thawed and re-heated. Some of these may need additional cooking once thawed.
9. Cooked rice – If you have leftovers then freeze them if not try to cook fresh. Hope anyone can handle a simple rice cooker.
1. Freshness and quality of the food at the time of freezing really matters as they may affect the condition of the frozen foods. They turn out good and taste better if frozen at the peak of their quality, so freeze items sooner rather than later to retain nutrition, flavor and texture.
3. Yogurt Culture – Just thaw at room temperature and use it immediately for a fresh batch of yogurt.
The Plan: 3 easy steps
I. Pick a Saturday or Sunday to cook. Over the weekend, when you will have a bit more free time and can commit at least an hour to cooking, you can get this done.
II. Plan a quick visit to your local supermarket. Take the ingredients lists for these two curries and visit your local supermarket. To make it easy on yourself, pick up convenience produce like pre-cut onions and peeled garlic, which are big time savers. Make sure you get a box of quart-sized Ziploc bags if you’re freezing for one or larger Ziploc bags if you’re freezing for a whole family.
III. Invest in a few key spices. These will go a long way, you can use them in a variety of dishes, and they keep in your cupboard for at least a couple of years. These two recipes will tell you everything you need, but if you want to really boost your pantry, check out my 5-10-5 Rule for Indian cooking. Trust me, you can never go wrong with my cheat sheet.
Bulk Cooking Indian Meals for Freezer II CANDID HOMEMAKING
FAQ
Which Indian dishes freeze well?
Can I freeze leftover Indian food?
Which curries freeze well?
What Indian food can be prepared in advance?
What is the best frozen Indian food?
The Saffron Road Chicken Tikka Masala With Basmati Rice Frozen Dinner is definitely the best frozen Indian food out there. They’re made with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, and the rice is cooked perfectly. Plus, it has a creamy sauce that’s not too spicy, so even those who don’t like hot food will enjoy this frozen dinner option.
Can Indian food be frozen?
Shared here are few Indian dishes which can be made ahead and stored in freezer for upto a month. Also please share your ideas on freezing and preserving Indian food. Disclaimer: Freshly Cooked Food is always the best and these are just hints for some busy days. Please follow proper care when freezing orelse the food may spoil.
Do Indian dishes freeze well?
It’d be difficult to list a few dishes because most Indian dishes freeze well. The only thing you need to understand is that milk and meat-based dishes will lose their taste and flavor over the period. So, you shouldn’t freeze them for too long.
What are the best frozen food recipes in India?
Frozen Foods, Indian Freezer Recipes: Kadai Paneer, Khajur Imli ni Chutney, Panchmel ki Subzi, Chana Palak, Aloo Mutter, Mixed Sprouts and Palak Subzi, Dal Makhani, Paneer Pasanda.