Why You Should Avoid Buying Frozen Vegetables With Fancy Sauce Packs

Even if you go by the "fresh is best" motto when shopping for produce at the grocery store, you can't deny the utility of frozen vegetables to make cooking more convenient and less of a hassle. Plus, in some cases, frozen produce might even be superior to its fresh counterparts (they're usually harvested at their peak and frozen right away, thereby retaining their vital nutrients). Sometimes, you may want to make your prep work even easier by opting for frozen vegetables with a sauce pack included. It's even better, right? Just prepare the veggies, toss in the provided sauce, and serve. But this is where things can go downhill.

Upon your first bite of what should have been a satisfying yet simple meal, it completely misses the mark on flavor. It's likely the sauce's fault; perhaps it's too sweet, too tangy, too salty, or it's missing that special something, ultimately resulting in a subpar dish that you probably have to put effort into to fix. Save yourself the trouble and opt for a good-quality brand of frozen vegetables and make your own sauce at home. This way, you have complete control over the ingredients and can fine-tune the flavors to cater to your palate's preferences. Putting together a flavorful sauce doesn't mean compromising on convenience. All it takes is a handful of pantry basics to deliver a delightful sauce to complement your veggies.

Say goodbye to the lackluster sauce packs. Instead, put together some quick-and-easy sauces to pair with your prepared frozen veggies. A super-simple sauce that calls for just two ingredients you probably already have on hand is a soy-tahini sauce. As the name suggests, all you need are soy sauce and tahini combined in a 1:1 ratio (you can adjust to your taste). The result is a fantastic condiment to drizzle atop your cooked or crisped frozen vegetables that you can serve in a hearty grain bowl or as a side dish. A combination of peanut butter, hoisin sauce, and rice vinegar delivers a delectable satay-style, Thai-inspired sauce to impart a touch of Southeast Asian flavors to the plate.

Fans of barbecue sauce can whip up a three-ingredient wonder that's a tasty balance of sweet, tangy, and savory: If you have ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce on hand, you're all set to make a delicious serving of barbecue-style vegetables. Sometimes, Worcestershire sauce may contain anchovies, so make sure to check the ingredients to keep your recipe plant-based. If you don't have Worcestershire sauce on hand, consider replacements such as soy sauce, A1 sauce, or a combination of balsamic vinegar and tamarind paste. For spicy food enthusiasts, add an element of heat by stirring in our favorite chili crisp or Trader Joe's beloved spicy condiment for added texture to the sauce.