Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tandoori with Spinach

June 9, 2006 | Reviewer: Abi

Price: $3.49 (sale)
Serving: 1 package, 10 oz.
Calories: 170
Fat: 7%, 4.5g
Sodium: 35%, 840mg
Protein: 14g
Carbs: 6%, 19g

Ethnic Gourmet says: Seasoned white meat chicken tossed with slow-cooked spinach. Served with seasoned long-grain brown rice.

Abi says: The first ingredient in this meal is spinach, thus this item should be renamed as follows: Ethnic Gourmet Creamed Spinach with a few bits of chicken and some brown rice that is colored yellow but doesn’t taste like anything but brown rice.

I can’t figure out why Ethnic Gourmet hasn’t crashed and burned. Their products are pretty expensive ($4.00) and can’t compare to the flavorful meals produced by Deep Foods. Come on market forces, do some work!

I wish that I was reviewing a Deep Foods item right now. I’d love to eat a Curry Classics Pad Thai Chicken or a Green Guru Paneer Tikka Masala, but instead I am battling gastro-intestinal agony from the ‘Ethnic Gourmet’ line. Actually, I’m not battling it, I’m fine now. But during the IT presentation of our new Helpdesk system, I was making the most ridiculous burbling noises. This stuff is basically pre-processed food and it is going to pass through your body in ten minutes. Ok, that may be too much information for some people, but it is very important to know.

How did the meal taste? Well, the chicken was ok and the meal was mildly spiced. I would call it excellently mediocre. I got a few skimpy nibs of chicken and an overly-watery, mildly flavored spinach sauce. I hadn’t tried an Ethnic Gourmet offering in months, and now I know why I stayed away. They’re overcharging for an inferior product, a product that is available from other sources (Deep Foods, for example) at comparable or better prices. Hey Safeway and Giant, stop stocking Ethnic Gourmet and make some room in your freezers for Curry Classics and Green Guru!

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comments

9 Responses to “Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tandoori with Spinach”

Marvo on June 10th, 2006

Ethnic = Exotic. If some company puts the word “Ethnic” in any product name, I think they feel it’s right to charge more for, no matter how crappy it is.
LauraFries.com on June 13th, 2006

Man. I wrote about food professionally once upon a time, and never did I coin a phrase so precise as “excellently mediocre.” Well done.
Abi on June 13th, 2006

Marvo – I completely agree. Other words that have the same effect include ‘Fair Trade’, ‘meticulously crafted’, and ‘choicest’.

LauraFries.com – I would love to be a food writer. Problem: I don’t enjoy mushrooms. Or non-avocado-containing sushi.
Funtimes on June 1st, 2007

I actually like this dish… and I love the fact that it’s only 3 WW points! Admittedly, I add a little salt, red pepper, and extra spinach- but I almost always end up doctoring my frozen dinners. When it’s on sale (and it usually is at my local Jewel/Albertson’s) it’s well worth it.
Frozen Entree Diet Lunch List « on July 23rd, 2007

[...] Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tandoori with Spinach [...]
JG on October 1st, 2007

One of the worst frozen meals I’ve ever had. The chicken tasted like it had come directly from a can and not been seasoned at all. The spinach had no seasonings either. I ate the rice and peas and threw the rest out.

I am not a food snob, by any stretch of the imagination. But I cannot believe that this product ever made it into stores.
Roxanne on February 18th, 2008

I like this meal a lot. Okay, I know processed stuff is not the best for you, but I think this meal tastes great, it’s super convenient, and it’s in the ZONE (nutritional guide). The stores near me do not carry it, but I wish they did!
GT on December 10th, 2008

You must enjoy ethnic food to even remotely begin to like this dish but if you are a fan of Indian Food (like myself) and you’re looking for the flexibility a frozen meal offers, this is a good option. I enjoy the exotic flavors and I have already adjusted my mindset for the lower quality rice and chicken, just like you get in all frozen meals. Bottom line…good value if you like Indian Food.
Kit Y. on May 20th, 2009

I am trying to eat this food during lunch and it sucks !!! I’m going to toss it. This is the WORST frozen Indian food I ever had… Who in earth ever taught this company that this is the way Indian food tastes…. My God, they didn’t even have the common sense to use BASMATI RICE !!!! All you taste is crunchy bland brown rice & cumin….no salt… no cream…no other spices…. the spinach tastes worst than canned spinach.
The chicken tastes old & freezer burnt !!!
“DEEP” Frozen Indian Food is the best by far…
“Ethnic Gourmet” should just throw in the towel and stick to American style food…stop trying to dish out “fake” versions of international fare..PLEASE!!!