3 H Mart Dinner Staples I’m Stocking in My Freezer from Now Until New Year’s
I have strong feelings about food. First and foremost, it should always bring me joy. I can’t stand to eat a meal that I don’t enjoy. While a good portion of my meals are made from scratch, an equal amount of my meals involve quick shortcuts, typically from the H Mart freezer section.
If you aren’t getting your frozen dinners (and fresh produce! And bags of snacks!) at H Mart, you’re severely missing out. The grocery chain is the crème de la crème in terms of ready-made quick dinners, which is why I love trying new things each time I visit — I’m seldom let down.
This time of year, I’m especially reliant on items that easily transform into weeknight dinners, practically on their own (in reality, I do some light lifting). These are my top three favorite freezer finds that’ll be in my dinner rotation from now until New Year’s.
1. Shirakiki Chicken Gyoza, $5.99 for 21 ounces
I can’t go to H Mart without picking up a new package of frozen dumplings. The retailer has dozens of options with an array of fillings, wrappers, and shapes and, in my experience, they’re all excellent. I recently snagged a hefty 21-ounce bag of chicken gyoza for just $5.99.
Unsurprisingly they’re also really tasty. The filling is a mix of chicken and finely diced vegetables that are equally delicious pan-fried as they are steamed in my bamboo steamer basket. Eat them on their own or with a side of rice.
2. Ajinomoto Karaage Chicken, $10.99 for 12.3 ounces
Japanese-style karaage chicken is incredibly crunchy and savory, both of which are bringing me joy — even as the sun sets well before 5 p.m. Ajinomoto is the first frozen brand of karaage chicken that I’ve tried, and I’m happily going to keep buying it. This bag is on the pricier side, but it’s so good and still cheaper than me making it on my own. Although it comes with four servings, it lasts me about two meals and I eat them with a homemade Sriracha mayo and on top of a bed of rice.
3. Haio Frozen Cold Pyongyang Noodles, $7.99 for 50 ounces
Cold noodles are not just a warm-weather must, especially when you live in a New York City building that controls the heat. When my apartment feels like a sauna (even in winter), I cool down with food — and that’s exactly why I love these noodles.
They’re made with buckwheat noodles and come with a light but savory broth. Cook them for five minutes and rinse in cold water before adding the cold broth; you can thaw the broth before or eat your noodles with a slushy-like texture. I like eating them with a dash of rice vinegar, soy sauce, and tofu but they’re plenty tasty on their own.
What are your favorite H Mart freezer finds? Tell us in the comments below.