Get ready for a mouthwatering adventure as we dive into the world of Chinese ready meals! With Lunar New Year just around the corner, it's time to explore some tasty alternatives to pricey takeaways. But here's the catch: can these supermarket meals really satisfy your cravings?
Our intrepid foodie, Zoe Chamberlain, took on the challenge of testing Chinese ready meals from seven UK supermarkets: Asda, Tesco, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons. With her family as taste testers, they evaluated these meals based on price, flavor, and nutritional value. Let's uncover their findings!
Morrisons Chinese Style Chicken Curry: A Disappointing Start
Priced at £3.75 for 400g, this curry fell flat with its runny sauce and bland taste. The nine small chicken pieces were chewy, and the rice lacked the promised egg. A definite miss, earning only two stars.
Sainsbury's Chinese Style Chicken Curry: Mild and Bland
At the same price as Morrisons, this curry offered a better experience. With five regular-sized chicken pieces, it had mild flavors but lacked the spice expected from a curry. The rice was a bit hard, but the egg was present. A decent three-star meal.
Lidl Chicken Curry: A Fruity Surprise
Retailing at £2.69, this curry was a pleasant surprise. The sauce had a nice thickness, and the fruity aroma and taste set it apart. With 10 chicken pieces and a generous amount of peas and egg in the rice, it earned a perfect five stars!
Aldi Sweet and Sour Chicken: Smoky and Tender
Priced at £2.79, this sweet and sour dish had a vibrant red sauce and a generous portion of seven large, tender chicken pieces. The rice could have used more egg, but the smoky flavor was unique. A solid three-star meal.
M&S Sweet and Sour Chicken: Tangy, but Not Quite There
This Cantonese-style dish from M&S costs £4.25 and features tender chicken chunks, red pepper strips, and pineapple slices. The brown rice was chewy, and the sauce, while tasty, was a bit too runny. It earned three stars.
Asda Sweet and Sour Chicken: Fresh and Satisfying
Retailing at £3.32, this sweet and sour option had a unique orange-hued sauce and nine pieces of chicken. The sauce tasted fresh, and the rice had a good balance of egg. A well-deserved four-star meal.
Tesco Chinese Style Chicken Curry: A Hidden Gem
Priced at £3.85, this curry stood out for its tender chicken and creamy coconut sauce with a nice tang. The surprise? It didn't contain any rice! Despite this, it earned four stars for its delicious flavors.
Final Thoughts: A 'Cheat's Takeaway' for a Tenner
Zoe's family found the portion sizes a bit small, but they loved the Asda, Tesco, and Lidl meals the most. The Lidl meal, with its takeaway-like quality, was their top pick. So, for just over a tenner, you can enjoy a satisfying 'cheat's takeaway' with your loved ones!
And there you have it! A fun exploration of Chinese ready meals. But here's the controversial part: Do you think these supermarket meals can truly replace a proper takeaway? Let's spark a discussion in the comments! Your thoughts and opinions are welcome!
