Product: Tasty Bite Peas Paneer – $3.29+
It’s been awhile since I’ve reached into my pantry and pulled out one of my numerous Tasty Bite Indian meals. But…with my fridge running low on fresh produce (I was out of town last weekend and didn’t get a produce bin), I had to come up with something easy for dinner tonight. I had just finished an intense circuit workout and was definitely ready for some food.
Thankfully, it doesn’t get easier than Tasty Bite’s Indian entrees. Honestly.
The next one up in my pantry was the Peas Paneer. I know…at first it doesn’t sound like the most delicious option in there. I mean, it’s peas, paneer cheese, and a sauce. It’s simple though, and sometimes the simplest ingredients can yield the best flavor.
Once again, making this couldn’t have been easier. I immediately got some jasmine rice on the stove to cook. As it was cooking up, all I had to do was tear a 2-inch slit in the bag, place it in the microwave, and heat for 90 seconds. Once the rice was done, this just got poured over it and dinner…was served.
Yep. That easy.
As is normally the case with Indian food…it doesn’t always look the most appealing when it comes to presentation. Let’s face it, the Tasty Bite Peas Paneer is simply green peas and paneer cheese simmered with onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. When I poured it over the rice, it was this brown liquid with peas and cubes of paneer cheese in it. But…as is the case with many ethnic cuisines…looks can be deceiving.
While I wasn’t expecting spice (and this one is M-I-L-D), I was hoping it would have a little more heat with it. But, the mildness was actually quite good. And the flavor of the entire dish was excellent. The peas were soft, not mushy. The paneer cheese was incredibly soft and absorbed much of the flavors in the sauce. Putting it over the jasmine rice made it a more complete meal.
And…as far as packaged foods go…this one doesn’t hit too hard on the nutrition. A serving is half the container, so splitting it with my roommate made this easy. That serving only sets you back 200 calories and hits you up with 10 grams of protein. Because of the cheese, however, there are 13 grams of fat in this particular one. The sodium level, however, is at a nice 400 mg per serving. So, there are pluses and minuses to choosing this one.
My roommate, a self-professed spice wimp, loved this. She liked how the spices and seasonings didn’t overpower anything else and that every component really got a chance to shine with each bite. She’s absolutely right. And, she also liked how this one wasn’t as spicy as she anticipated. I keep reminding her that just because it is Indian food, doesn’t mean it’s going to hit you up with heat.
Would I buy this one again? Sure…but I have other ones I have tried that I’ve liked a little more. As it stands though…an easy, quick meal after a busy, stressful week. It was the perfect way to wind into the weekend. Keeping it simple…and delicious!
The Celiathlete 