Header image adapted from @mindytanphoto and TODAY 

Frozen Food Recipes

The Covid-19 virus has recently gotten a new target — wet markets in Singapore. As every trip to the wet market becomes a little riskier, perhaps it’s best to avoid the wet market crowds for now.

That said, not to worry as we’ve got 15 delicious frozen food recipes for you to try at home. You can easily get the wide variety of frozen ingredients in a supermarket or order them online. It’s okay to order more as well, and they can be stored for quite a long time in the freezer.

P.S. If you’re worried about health, get this: Contrary to popular belief, frozen ingredients are actually as nutritious, if not more nutritious than fresh food! Just be sure to thaw frozen food safely before cooking.

– Frozen Seafood –

1. Crispy Chinese Salt & Pepper Shrimps

This recipe is so simple yet absolutely tasty. It hits all the notes – the crisp and crunch of the deep fried prawns coated in spice mix. You can easily get a bag of frozen shrimp under $10 at any supermarket, and some even come peeled to save you the hassle!

Frozen ingredients: Shrimps

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/salt-and-pepper-prawns

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax. 

2. Steamed Scallops with Glass Noodles

It’s a very simple dish, but you’re sure to enjoy the light soy sauce and the fragrance of the fried garlic combined with the sweetness of the scallops. This easy recipe is also friendly on the wallet as frozen half-shelled scallops cost under $20 for 10 scallops, or around 1kg.

A word of caution: do take note of the steaming time base on the size of your scallops! Smaller scallops only need 5 minutes in the steamer.

Frozen ingredients: Scallops

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/steamed-scallops-with-glass-noodles/

Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 4. 

3. Taiwanese Oyster Mee Sua

Miss travelling? Get a taste of Taiwan with the smooth texture of Oyster Mee Sua. Coupled with juicy oysters, the noodles are super slurpable and will leave you wanting more! It’s also a treat for those who love black vinegar.

Frozen oyster meat costs between $5 to $13 depending on the brand, but it’s widely available at almost all supermarkets.

Frozen ingredients: Oyster meat

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipe-taiwanese-oyster-mee-sua/

Preparation Time: 1 hour 15 mins. Serves 8. 

4. Chinese-Style Steam Cod Fish

Cod fish is nutritious and a source of healthy fats, definitely a much healthier replacement for our favourite pork belly. During the steaming process, the fats and the aroma are slowly released, even from frozen fish. Season with pepper, ginger and Hua Tiao wine for the best results.

Frozen ingredients: Cod Fish

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/steamed-cod-fish-with-fried-garlic-and-ginger/

Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 4. 

5. Pan Fried Cod Fish Fillet with Sweet & Sour Sauce

Another cod fish favourite, this sweet and sour cod fillet recipe is popular with young and old alike. Instead of steaming, this pan-fried method of cooking gives the fillets or cod steaks a sensational crisp on the outside, while the inside remains soft and flakey.

Note that frozen cod steaks are slightly more premium and are priced between $20 to $65 per pack. That said, if you’re up for treating yourself, this recipe is one of the best ways to do it justice.

Frozen ingredients: Cod Fillet, Cod Steaks

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/steamed-cod-fish-with-fried-garlic-and-ginger/

Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 4. 

– Frozen Poultry –

6. Thai Stir Fry Chicken with Basil

This simple recipe is well suited for beginners, and it’s delicious, too! The heat from the chili padi and the sharp contrast of the sweet soy sauce can be tailored exactly to your liking. Top it with a sunny side up egg and it’ll be easily restaurant-standard.

For this, you can either get frozen minced chicken or frozen chicken thigh. If you start with chicken thigh, note that you’ll have to thaw and mince it before cooking. For beef- and pork-lovers, you can also switch up the protein here to your liking.

Frozen ingredients: Minced chicken, beef, pork or chicken thigh

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/stir-fry-basil-chicken/

Preparation Time: 20 minutes. Serves 2. 

7. Salt Baked Chicken

The highlight of this dish is the salt crust, which helps to seal in the juices during cooking, and makes the chicken nice and tender. For this, we created our own spice rub using Sichuan peppercorns and other spices to elevate the flavours.

The recipe is meant for a whole chicken, but alternatively, you can also tailor the recipe for frozen chicken thighs for smaller bites.

Frozen ingredients: Whole chicken or chicken thigh

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/salt-baked-chicken/

Preparation Time: 1 hour 10 minutes. Serves 4. 

8. Air Fryer Grilled Chicken

You may have seen this dish in our Air Fryer Recipes, but this can also be made from frozen chicken thighs. There are 3 marinades to choose from in this one recipe, so you can get one pack of frozen chicken thigh and have it 3 ways on 3 days! Defrosting will take up to 30 minutes, so do factor that into the cooking time.

This recipe works with pork loin or pork cutlets as well, to your preference.

Frozen ingredients: Chicken thigh, or pork loin

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/air-fryer-chicken-thighs-marinated-3-ways/

Preparation Time: 10 minutes. Serves 2-3. 

9. Korean Ginseng Soup

It’s a traditional belief in Korea that Sam Gye Tang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup) is the ultimate way to revitalise the body and boost the immune system — something we’re all well in need of during Covid. The chicken in this soup is heavily infused with the flavours from the ginseng root, not to mention tender to the touch. Best is to get a whole chicken for the soup, but large chicken drumsticks will do the trick as well.

Frozen ingredients: Whole chicken or large chicken drumsticks

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/korean-ginseng-chicken-soup/

Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Serves 2. 

10. Extra Crispy and Juicy Marmite Chicken Recipe

Whether you love or hate marmite, this recipe twists its rich flavour, combining a sweet Asian taste with delicious fried chicken pieces. It’s full of flavour and crispy texture, making it a favourite with kids.

As a bonus, this recipe reveals two cooking tips to keep your sauces thick and viscous, and your fried chicken ever-crispy. Try this recipe for yourself to discover the secrets!

Frozen ingredients: Chicken thigh

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/marmite-chicken/

Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4. 

11. Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Believe it or not, National Day is just round the corner again. Celebrate by making a Singapore classic Chicken Satay. In this recipe, the chicken satay is oven-grilled, meaning you don’t need a smoky grill to achieve tender perfection.

A honey mixture is also brushed on both sides during the oven-grilling process, giving it a nice additional sweetness to the meat — which you can easily get fresh or frozen.

Frozen ingredients: Chicken thigh

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/chicken-satay-with-peanut-sauce/

Preparation Time: 1 hour. (+3 hours marination). Serves 20-24 pieces. 

– Other Frozen Meats –

12. Pork Ribs and Lotus Soup

A classic soup you’ll find in Chinese households, this dish can also be created using frozen pork ribs that cost under $10 in most supermarkets.

It is relatively mild in taste, and the addition of red dates and carrots gives the soup a dash of natural sweetness. Optionally, if you’d like to have a bit more herbal taste, finish this off with a dash of huiji waist tonic to add more depth!

Frozen ingredients: Pork ribs

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/pork-ribs-and-lotus-root-soup/

Preparation Time: 2 hour. Serves 4. 

13. Steamed Meat Patty with Salted Egg Yolk

Fast, simple and well-loved, this is a common household dish that you’ve probably tried when you were younger. Bring back the nostalgia, but this time, with some salted egg yolk to elevate it. Minced pork is available both fresh and frozen in supermarkets under $5, making this dish the economical choice as well.

A tip is to look out for portions with fatty bits in them! It’ll make your steamed meat patty all the more tender and tasty.

Frozen ingredients: Minced pork

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/steamed-meat-patty-with-salted-egg-yolk/

Preparation Time: 10 minutes. Serves 4. 

14. Cantonese Minced Beef with Egg Over Rice

At first glance, this dish looks like a Japanese rice bowl. It is quite similar, with stir-fried minced beef, green peas and seasoning, all with a whole egg cracked on top. Hard to believe, but you can easily whip this up in 30 minutes! Frozen minced beef is easily available at supermarkets, so add it to your shopping list!

Frozen ingredients: Minced beef

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/cantonese-minced-beef-with-egg-over-rice/

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 4. 

15. Wonton with Spicy Sesame Oil

Needless to say, making wontons is great family fun. We would garnish the dish with scallions, sesame seeds and chilli strands, but of course, the stars are the tender and juicy prawns and minced pork inside. Save a trip to the wet market by getting the frozen versions, which work perfectly as well.

Frozen ingredients: Minced pork, prawns

Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/wonton-with-spicy-sesame-oil/

Preparation Time: 45 minutes. Serves 3-4. 

Cooking with Frozen Food

While we will miss the distinct sights and smells of the wet market, perhaps now it’s better to stay home and do our grocery shopping at safer places. And don’t panic if you can’t get ahold of fresh food! As you can see from this list of delicious recipes, frozen food works perfectly as well. Check out this playlist for more. Happy cooking!

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Some other articles you might like:

• Air-Fryer recipes
• 6 breakfast recipes 
• I cooked with my dad for the first time

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P.P.S. Can’t find a recipe you like? Drop us a comment or ping us on our socials.

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