There are some good frozen entrees and then there are some great ones. Saffron Road  makes some of the best tasting frozen meals I’ve had in quite some time. (Since I only eat meat twice a week, when I do, I want to make sure it’s something delicious).  They offer Halal certified poultry and lamb. According to their packaging, Halal is the” sacred practice of respect for land, fair treatment for farmers, humane treatment of livestock and clean, wholesome food to eat.”  All of the livestock are raised with 100% vegetarian feed and are antibiotic free. They purchase food from small sustainably run farms and all their Indian dishes are gluten free. The four selections include Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Saag, Chicken Biryani, and Lamb Vindaloo. They sent me coupons to try all four. I have already tried two-the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb Saag.

Chicken Tikka Masala

I must begin with a bit of a disclaimer. I don’t eat spicy food, and the dish seemed a little spicy to me. There is a heat gauge on the package that says it’s medium, so the sauce will have a bit of a kick. The chicken is very tender and is really tasty. I used the conventional oven method for heating the dish, so I’m not sure if the chicken will be as tender using a microwave. There is a generous portion of saffron rice in the dish as well, and the sauce is enough to cover it all. My main requirement when shopping for prepackaged food is to be able to understand each ingredient. The list is very simple and reads like a recipe. For those of you trying to keep meals around 300 calories, this is one has only 290.  Naan would be a great addition to this dish and I wish I had some with mine. If you are a natural foodie who loves Indian cuisine and want restaurant taste in few minutes, this is the dish for you.

Lamb Saag   

This dish is a lot milder and the smooth consistency of the Saag (spinach sauce) is wonderful. The sauce includes diced tomato, cream, ginger garlic and spices. The rice has a bit of saffron, but it’s not as yellow in appearance as the masala dish. The lamb is seasoned very well, the taste is mild, and there isn’t a lot of meat in the sauce which I love. Since I’m a foodie that eats meat twice a week, it’s not something that I need vast quantities of. So if you are looking for a large lamb chop, this is not the dish for you. Its more like having a spinach stew with lamb. This was definitely my favorite, and at 300 calories, this will be a keeper on my shopping list.

Saffron Road entrees are available Earth Fare and Whole Foods stores.