Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tikka Masala

November 15, 2006 | Reviewer: Jess

Price: $4.00 (full price)
Serving: 1 package, 10 oz.
Calories: 200
Fat: 9%, 6g
Sodium: 28%, 680mg
Protein: 17g
Carbs: 6%, 19g
Fiber: 7%, 2g

Ethnic Gourmet says: Seasoned white meat chicken pieces in a robust, creamy sauce, with seasoned, long-grain brown rice.

Jess says: I have been eating a lot of Indian food lately (both of the “cloth napkin” and “pierced plastic film” variety) so my palate is especially in tune with the bountiful spices of India. I went to an Indian buffet last Friday and scooped fat-ass amounts of Chicken Tikka Masala on to my wrist-injuring serving plate. While the plate is another story, damn! I love that creamy yogurt spiciness! This microwave meal, however, was nowhere near my Friday feast.

Look at the picture of Ethnic Gourmet’s Chicken Tikka offering. Ask yourself, ‘Where is the chicken?’ The answer is ‘Not in Jess’s bowl’. There was literally one strip of chicken and then a bunch of shredded chicken bits that required spooning as the bits were too tiny for fork prongs. The rice, as happens often with brown rice, had no vah vah voom. Thank Ganesh that the sauce saved the meal.

I dumped all the bland rice in with the not-as-good-as-take-out sauce and went to town with my ricey chicken bits. Based on previous reviews of Ethnic Gourmet items, I think they need to go back to the drawing board on their name. Thesaurus.com suggested “Ethnic Amateur” or how about “Ethnic Passables”.

comments

12 Responses to “Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tikka Masala”

foleydog on November 15th, 2006

You’re absolutely right on this one. I only eat these when, I’m absolutely sick of LC, and I want to overpay for frozen food. It doesn’t approach the level of Indian goodness I can get from my local delivery, not to mention actual sit down restaurants, nor home cooking. The only thing going for this is convenience and a predictable calorie count.
Anna on November 21st, 2006

The calorie count cracks me up. When is someone from whatever agency it is that controls nutritional labeling going to come in and give them the smackdown for false calorie counts. No way this contains only 200 calories.

Also, I’ve noticed they are hit or miss with the amount of chicken. The dinners use to have substantially more, but now the amount is quite paltry.
DC on January 24th, 2007

I was expecting worse and was suprised by it being as good as it was. I tasted the rice first, which was bland, but I mixed it in with the chicken and sauce and was pleasantly suprised. I’ll be buying it again.
Nikki on March 28th, 2007

Actually, the product IS only a little over 200 calories. The sauce is relatively low in fat, and the chicken speaks for itself. Its a smaller portion of the 350 calorie version. I mix the chicken, sauce and rice together, and it’s not a bad little meal with some kick. What more do you want for $2 something a box?
Abi Jones on March 28th, 2007

The problem is that the meal is never just $2.00 per box. It is so rarely on sale that I’m better off just splitting an enormous take-out Indian meal with a friend. ‘Not bad’ isn’t a good reason to eat something.
Amber on April 10th, 2007

I love this one! Yeah, it costs a lot, but it’s one of the few boxed meals that actually bothers to have any spice at all, even if it’s still rather mild.
Rob on September 7th, 2007

I just got a couple of these cause they were on sale for $2.50 and agree with both reviews. One dish similar to this one had only shreds of chicken. The other had some identifiable chicken. But as the other review mentions they really don’t go down well at all.
Jean on September 27th, 2007

I really liked the sauce in this one, even the chicken was merely chicken bits. I’m not a big fan of brown rice, but this was pretty good, and plumped up in the microwave. For Weight Watchers: If the calorie count etc. on the packaging is correct, the point value for this meal is 4.
Pete on November 27th, 2007

Your review is right-on. I did like the flavor of the broth. The only way to give it any substance that comes close to a sauce is to mix the rice in with those little paper thin pieces of ???, that they refer to as chicken. If it ever sells for $2.00 I might purchase another. But, on the other hand there are so many other choices that are much better.

This was my 1st try of an Ethnic Gourmet meal and most likely my last.
christine on February 13th, 2008

Just had this and I like it alot. I had plenty of chicken in it, and yes the rice is bland, but mixed with the yummy sauce was good. I also got this on clearence for 89 cents, so it was a great deal.
Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Tikka Masala : HeatEatReview.com on February 28th, 2008

[…] I just realized that over a year ago, my darling Jess reviewed the same meal and was not impressed. Maybe they’ve since improved it? Or maybe I’m just easier to […]
Grant on March 17th, 2008

I tried it again today for old times sake and it looks like I got the last couple scraps of a highly emaciated chicken.

This meal used to be one of my favorites. I bought it all the time along with their palak paneer. Now it is way low on my list of microwavable ethnic foods to buy and to be honest, I’m no longer all that impressed with the Ethnic Gourmet line as a whole. There are a lot better options out there.

They really messed up a good thing, I don’t think I will buy it again.