Vesta Beef Curry

Whilst doing my usual weekly shop I saw something on the shelf that I hadn't seen in years "Vesta Beef Curry" and what a blast from the past it was too. I believe this was how I was first introduced to curry some 30 years ago (I know I was quite young at the time)

Because of the length of time I was spending taking a nostalgic look and also a trip down memory lane, my son asked what was so special about this box and its contents.
...inadvertently wet his appetite and stirred his curiosity as he asked if he could have one to try.

Even after stressing this would neither look, nor taste anything like the curries he is used to, he still seemed rather excited at the prospect of trying this curry in a box.

Nothing had changed with this 236g product except for the £1.58 price tag. It still came in a black cardboard box printed to make it look like a suit ... more

Whilst doing my usual weekly shop I saw something on the shelf that I hadn't seen in years "Vesta Beef Curry" and what a blast from the past it was too. I believe this was how I was first introduced to curry some 30 years ago (I know I was quite young at the time)

Because of the length of time I was spending taking a nostalgic look and also a trip down memory lane, my son asked what was so special about this box and its contents.

After explaining at length, I must have inadvertently wet his appetite and stirred his curiosity as he asked if he could have one to try.

Even after stressing this would neither look, nor taste anything like the curries he is used to, he still seemed rather excited at the prospect of trying this curry in a box.

Nothing had changed with this 236g product except for the £1.58 price tag. It still came in a black cardboard box printed to make it look like a suit case, with a picture of how the contents will look once mixed with water and cooked.

It was a couple of weeks before, after spotting it in the pantry, he asked if he could have it instead of the Indian takeaway were planning to have, "yes ok" I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

The instructions printed on the back of the box were clear and simple enough for him to make this himself. After first putting the kettle on to boil water for the rice, he then got out 2 medium sized saucepans. Once the water had boiled he then measured out 2 pints into one of the pans, then brought it back to boiling point, added a pinch of salt, then the rice, which once boiling again, he then let it simmer, whilst he started on the sauce.

The packet containing the dried sauce mix is paper, like the one that contained the rice; he simply ripped of the top and emptied it into the other pan then added 450mls of cold water before bringing it to the boil, stirring all the time as per the instructions on the box.

The curry smelt just as I remember it had all those years ago, it's not so much a curry sauce smell, but more like the smell of curry powder. The sauce thickened nicely, to a piccalilli colour, dotted with peas, carrots and very uniformed cube shaped pieces of beef. After draining the rice, then rinsing it with boiling water, he placed it carefully on his plate as suggested on the box, ring of rice with sauce in the middle (just like the picture on the box), very 70's I thought, he'll be wanting Artic roll next !

There was rather a strong whiff of this curry in the kitchen, more so than when I am making one using a sauce from a jar, but son looked happy and sat down to eat his creation.

Whilst I have to admit it did look on the colourful side, I knew only too well it wouldn't taste anything like he has expected, I waited eagerly for his reaction.

After a couple of mouth full's, he looked at me rather disappointed and said in a voice reminiscent of Andy off little Britain " don't like it", of course I wasn't surprised after all, the curries we have usually don't contain even a fraction of the ingredients listed on this one, plus there is always real meat in ours too.

Having a taste of this myself, I was for a moment transported back in time again, it tasted just how it used to, fruity and warm, but with that distinct "this is made from a packet" taste to it, the cubes of beef soft and chewy reminded me of home economics lessons when were introduced to Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) and had to make a curry not dissimilar to this to demonstrate one of it's uses.

The remaining curry left on the plate went in the bin, but he ate the bulk of the rice. The cardboard box and paper sachets went for recycling.

The ingredients list is rather long and this mentions Monosodium Glutamate twice along with a cocktail of other nasties. Obviously as this contains beef it's unsuitable for vegetarians it also contains wheat gluten which may cause problems for some

A disappointing experience all round, one that neither of us are in any rush to re live.

If you are planning to do the same and take a trip down memory lane by buying yourself one of these, then my advice would be don't, Leave this past where it belongs ……………. IN THE PAST! 

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