Price: $3.99
Serving: 1/2 package, 5oz.
Calories: 200
Fat: 27%, 17g
Cholesterol: 14%, 45mg
Sodium: 22%, 540mg
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 2%, 6g
Fiber: 0%, 0g
Sugar: 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Deep Foods says: Paneer prepared in the tandoori style and simmered in an authentic and richly-spiced sauce

Abi says: I’ve never been to India, so I don’t know how authentic from-India food tastes. Sure, I’ve eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants, but I have no idea whether I’m eating real food or the Indian version of Taco Bell.

But I don’t take authenticity too seriously when something is so freaking delicious. This paneer makhani contains only pronounceable ingredients* and is bursting with the rich and subtle flavors that highlight my favorite Indian foods. My mouth is watering just thinking about how much I enjoy this dish now that I’ve taken it out of the running for lunch and made it a part of a simple, delicious dinner.

In the photo you can see a rotisserie chicken, couscous and the paneer. It isn’t a well balanced meal because it is completely lacking vegetables, but I’m not too worried about that because it took all of five minutes to put together this meal.

Yes, five minutes. Thank you Whole Foods chicken.

Each dish of Paneer Makhani contains 2-3 servings, making it a simple way to round out a meal in need of spice. If you’re worried about the extreme amount of fat in each serving, you can definitely use this as a sauce instead of a side and split it four ways. The tomato-based (or should I say cream-based?) sauce is mellowly spicy, making it flavorful without being overwhelming. The sauce and cheese combination is extraordinarily rich, so you’ll want to steer toward plain accompaniments. There are about 12 cubes of cheese per package and while that seems like very little to be sharing with others. Everything in the tray is so delicious that I wish Deep Foods just sold this sauce in little foil pouches I could pull out of the cupboard at any time.

*Ingredients: Tomatoes, Water Onions, Cream, Paneer (milk, part skim milk, vinegar, salt), Canola Oil, Cashews, Spices, Milled Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Garlic, Butter, Oleoresin of Paprika, Turmeric, Fenugreek Leaves

Price: $4.00
Serving: 1/2 package, 5oz.
Calories: 210
Fat: 22%, 14g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 19%, 470mg
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 6%, 19g
Fiber: 11%, 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 per Serving

Deep Foods says: Mixed Vegetables sauteed and seasoned in authentic Indian style. Vegetarian Delight.

Jess says: When it comes to microwave food, I’ve been around the block a few times. I know the staples, the Stouffers and Lean Cuisines of this world. And I know about the niche markets of vegan delights and celebrity named frozen food brands. I have explored the freezer cases of many a supermarket, organic market and convenience store. So it is with great pleasure that I embark on new territory. Oh to be the Leif Erickson of this flash frozen new world! It is an honor, ney, a privilege. To find this Undhiu Indian food brand was a special treat because, damn, I love Indian food. The things Indian chefs can do with mere peas! Peas! Bring it on, I say.

It was only when I opened this box that I realized there was no rice in this meal. What a let down. No matter how tastily compiled your Indian fare maybe, you need that starchy rice goodness to sop up all the liquid and expand in your hungry stomach. Otherwise you have less of a meal and more of a spicy soupy appetizer. So I left the meal to thaw and picked up some basmati rice, naan and stuffed grape leaves at this foodery of unknown ethnic allegiance down the street. They mix Indian, Mediterranean and American all over their menu, but they are cheap and delicious so I don’t ask too many questions.

Back at the office, and now super hungry, I fell into a trance staring at the microwave and took in the sweet, spicy smells of this meal coming to life. True to smell, the taste was nothing short of kick ass. It’s on the sweeter nutmegish side with a good helping of veggies. And what is that tender burst of goodness my mouth encountered? A sweet potato! Well, hello beautiful. With the rice and naan, the portion was mighty and managed to be enough for a second lunch the next day. Each day I found myself to be the happiest of the desk-enslaved.

So now, Internet, I’m torn. How does one rate a truly delicious meal that is not a self contained entity, but merely a key ingredient to the final product? I think I still have to give it 3 stars. With the rice and naan, I spent over $8 on this meal which is A LOT for microwave food. It did last 2 days, though, which puts it at $4 a meal which isn’t too bad. But then there is the cost of doing so much extra work to get the final product together. Once I got to the eatery I just could have bought their food, which I like to pretend is fresh, and would have been done with the whole fiasco of lunching. Let us remember that the idea of microwave food is the convenience. Still, I would recommend that you try this brand if you stumble on it. Just remember to have some rice on hand.

Ingredients: Potatoes, Eggplant, Green Beans, Pigeon Peas, Corn Oil, Bell Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Lima Beans, Tomatoes, Plantain, Spinach, Chickpeas, Sugar, Coconut, Coriander, Salt, Spices, Peppers, Sesame Seeds, Wheat Flour, Rye, Turmeric and Citric Acid.

[If you’re into Trader Joe’s products, we recommend the microwavable rice (it comes in boxes) and the frozen naan. Amy adores Trader Joe’s Garlic Naan. -Ed.]