Day 2 of Veganuary and I had the choice of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner to review this time, however, for the best taste I went for Dinner and the rarity of a Gluten Free Vegan Microwave meal.
I've always wanted to make a risotto, I've heard it is pretty time consuming and very hard work (all that stirring) so for this time I cheated! It just took me 3 minutes and a quick stir, then hey presto! A full dinner full of taste and some of my favourite vegetables, Butternut Squash, Mushrooms and of course the very good for you, Kale.
So here it is, courtesy of Asda and Pure...the Butternut Squash Risotto review!
Availability of Product:
This product isn't quite so easy to come by, I have only found it once or twice in a handful of stores, this time I found it on my way home in the Asda in Eastleigh. Unfortunately I haven't found it in any of my local stores, I feel this is a shame as it is a welcome microwave meal relief in a mine of many ingredient meals for us GFV folk!
I hope to see an increase in lines of this range, as presently only this meal is Vegan, well actually the only one which is Vegetarian and also that it will be found in more supermarkets rather than just a few Asda chains.
3/10
Quality of Taste:
The taste of this meal was incredibly fresh, packed full of flavour and of great combined texture for something that took so little time to cook and coming as a ready meal.
The Kale added a wonderful fresh crunch alongside the pumpkin seeds, with the soft base of Rice, Brown Rice and Quinoa combined with the Butternut Squash for flavour and Mushrooms breaking it up. There was a different flavour, texture and freshness to every bite. For me, it was a sufficient meal but for others it might be a little on the small side, needing some accompaniment of Gluten Free Bread. The taste was well thought out, well seasoned and I needn't do anything extra to it to ensure I enjoyed my meal.
Overall a great meal for on the go or as in my case, a lazy dinner whilst sorting out some things at home.
9/10
Easiness to Cook:
As I have said previously, risotto is usually notoriously difficult to cook. However, creating a wonderfully easily ready meal that you simply need to place in the microwave for 2 minutes, stir it once and then cook for further minute is brilliant.
A microwave meal to the normal person may seem like a novelty or even frowned upon as something only lazy unhealthy people eat. However, take that novelty away from you then you quickly realise how much you miss simply placing something in the microwave and being able to do nothing else to it but plate it up and eat it.
For this I can only give full marks for them being able to help people such as myself feel free to be "lazy" but certainly not unhealthy!
10/10