Asda Indian Meal for Two

...under £16. This bag from Asda retails for approximately £5.99. Admittedly, you don't get as much in the bag per portion as you would from the takeaway, but its still a good deal if you fancy a curry.

In fact, if you are of particularly large appetite, you could buy the whole bag for yourself, still spend less than you would at the takeaway, and get more for your money! :)

+Heating+

The entire meal can ...
...the oven. Obviously it takes a lot less time to nuke it in the microwave than in the oven, but its decidedly more tricky. After all, you have five containers and one packet of naan breads to heat, and one small microwave. See the problem here? I tried it at my parents house, and it was practically impossible to get everything hot at the same time (and soggy, cold onion bhajis are really no fun). So, if you can wait that long, just stick it all in ... more

This isn't the kind of opinion I'd usually write. I generally find it quite difficult to write about food, I mean, how much can you say about ketchup? (kudos to those who can by the way!).

But I am more than happy to write about this little gem from ASDA....

+What do you get?+

The meal as a whole comes in a bag, and consists of two containers of rice, two containers of the main dishes, two naan breads, and two mini onion bhaji. You can find it in the chilled section, although you could always split up the contents when you get home and freeze them for later use.

+The Taste test+

Could I get away with just writing 'Yum!' here?

Thought not ;)

Well, in all honesty, I never in a million years expected one of these meals to deliver the goods. Ready made meals have always been (in my eyes anyhow) sub-standard, tasteless, pitifully small, and cheap but not necessarily so cheerful. I have always preferred 'proper food', made from fresh ingredients. Maybe that's come from growing up with a chef for a father, and a mum who's a good cook...I don't know. Either way, ready meals were for people who couldn't cook, who didn't have the time, or students who were too hung over to be trusted near a gas cooker.

So I sceptically tucked in....and boy, how wrong can a girl be?

The two main dishes in the particular 'Meal for Two' I tried were Chicken Korma and Chicken Tikka Masala, although there are other varieties to choose, dependent on your taste.

The Korma was very mild and creamy, with a definite taste of coconut running through it. If you're not great on spicy dishes, then this is most certainly for you. My mother has never liked spicy or hot things, so you can imagine my surprise as I watched her happily tucking in.

The Masala was altogether more tomato-ey and spicy, though thoroughly tasty all the same. The creamy sauce of the masala, although slightly thinner in texture than the korma, is in no way watery, so you feel like you're eating a properly prepared indian meal.

Both dishes, while not huge, are generously portioned, and best eaten served in bowls in the middle of the table and shared among two people (more filling this way too for some reason!). The rice was vibrant (bright yellow), and tasty, the quantity being more than ample for two. The flavoured naan breads are of a decent size (almost that of a pitta) and best heated in the oven so they go nice and crispy :D

The two mini onion bhajis are, well, exactly what they say - pretty small. But they aren't there to be a starter, rather more of a tasty companion to the meal.

+Quality+

I should maybe point out here how notoriously picky I am when it comes to meat. I cannot stand fatty meat, or dark meat, or meat with general other 'nasty' bits. I don't like bones, I don't like gristle. Basically, when I eat meat, it has to be pretty much of a top grade and quality. Otherwise I simply won't eat it. And thankfully, these meals provide exactly what I require. The chicken was pure white meat, and considering its quality, given in generous amounts.

The rice.....and I know what you're thinking.....rice is just rice, right? Well no, not here. Within the rice containers, there are cloves, cardamom seeds and the occasional bay leaf. As you heat the rice, the flavours infuse into it, leaving you with rice that is truly tasty on its own, let alone when you have it with the main dishes. But you should always remember to take these out of the rice before you eat them.....as my flatmate found out when she munched on a clove *sniggers* :D

Speaking of quality...lets take a look at....

+Ingredients+

Being so overwhelmed by just how utterly scrummy this meal had turned out to be, I thought I'd have a quick look at the ingredients. My surprises were not yet over...

To my bemusement, I did not see E-number this, and something-flavouring that. Nope, the main meals are made with proper, fresh ingredients. A ready meal with real food in it - what is the world coming to? ;)

I won't go into particular ingredients, as these may change depending on which ready meal you buy, but I do think, as far as I remember, that they aren't suitable for people with nut allergies - so be sure to have a look if you buy one.

+Price+

Now this is another reason I don't often buy ready meals. Considering what you get, you end up paying an awful lot. But given that this is an indian meal, and I can't make indian at home, the only thing I have to compare it in price with is the local indian takeaway.

Around here, you can't get a decent indian meal for two, including naan bread and bhajis, for under £16. This bag from Asda retails for approximately £5.99. Admittedly, you don't get as much in the bag per portion as you would from the takeaway, but its still a good deal if you fancy a curry.

In fact, if you are of particularly large appetite, you could buy the whole bag for yourself, still spend less than you would at the takeaway, and get more for your money! :)

+Heating+

The entire meal can be done in the microwave, or, luckily for me, in the oven. Obviously it takes a lot less time to nuke it in the microwave than in the oven, but its decidedly more tricky. After all, you have five containers and one packet of naan breads to heat, and one small microwave. See the problem here? I tried it at my parents house, and it was practically impossible to get everything hot at the same time (and soggy, cold onion bhajis are really no fun). So, if you can wait that long, just stick it all in the oven - it makes for an easier life :)

+Summary+

Delicious, scrummy, yummy, tasty, filling *starts to drool*...

Huh? What? Oh yeah, sorry....

They're good. Very good. And its as simple as that. £5.99 may look a bit steep when all you can see is the bag, but its worth every penny. Good indian food is hard to come by, and that a ready meal has produced cuisine of such a high quality is utterly impressive in my book.

So go try one yourself, you may, like me, be pleasantly surprised :)
 

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