The curry here was tasty, but both Sonia and I felt it to be a tad blasé. We both agree the flavor was good—we just wish there were more of it. And we both could have handled a significantly greater amount of spicy kick. But as Russ notes in a soon-to-be-released podcast episode, the Brits are known for serving bland-ish food. Maybe full blown Indian curry was too much for the English, so they toned it down a bit.
The pie-crust-like breading was excellent. Sonia compared it to a flaky croissant. The carrot and potato chunks were large and plentiful and served a similar function as they might in a traditional pot pie. The chicken was also adequate, moist, and tender.
One pie is extraordinarily filling. And it should be—because each serving has massive amounts of fat and calories, including a full 115% of your US RDA for saturated fat! Sonia was wise enough to eat only two thirds of hers and save the rest for another day. At around $5.99 per box, they're not super cheap, and if you want to cook them properly in the oven, you're looking at the better part of an hour for prep time. So these tasty little pies are a significant investment on your waistline, wallet, and schedule—at least as far as frozen convenience food goes. Am I glad we tried them? Heck yes. Despite craving a tad more heat, I really can't complain about the texture or taste. Four stars from me. 3.5 from Sonia.
Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.
In grad school in the Midwest, an Indian fellow student brought a veggie rice curry dish. The Midwesterners told him it was very tasty (and it was) but very spicey. He looked so disappointed- he had deliberately used only 1/10 of the usual spices, knowing what wimps we were!
ReplyDeleteIndians love that spice!
Delete"Maybe full blown Indian curry was too much for the English, so they toned it down a bit."
ReplyDeleteBut curry IS English.
Curry refers to many different spice combinations depending on the region of INDIA, tradition, available local spices and culture.
DeleteBrits may have "invented" their version but curries are not English
I enjoyed these very much. The flavors were right on - and not to spicy. More spice? Add your own hot sauce. The authors of this blog must be sooo busy - that they find it inconvenient to invest 50 minutes to make a re-heated meal. I must assume that their "real cooking skills" are lacking terribly.
ReplyDeleteAs an Englishman on an extended visit to western PA, I had to try them when I found them. I enjoyed them but am not sure I'd get them again. The crust was the best bit - as it should be with that much fat! The filling was ok, up there with what I've had at home in terms of curry pies (which tend not to be high end products)... but there is the problem, the standard British chicken curry pastry is cheap as chips, Trader Joe's wasn't.
ReplyDeleteAs for the heat/Britishness - the Balti isn't a hot or particularly spicy curry (being one of the products of Indian accomodation to British palates) but it's meant to be spicier than that. And most British curries are a lot spicier than that. But then curry pies are rarely that spicy for whatever reason.
wow, those look really good, but the calorie count is out of this world! No thanks! I'll pass. Thanks for keeping us informed!
ReplyDeleteI bake a sweet potato or a squash with them and then eat half, save the rest for lunch tomorrow. They are yummy, but too many calories for one meal!
ReplyDeleteI have tried most of TJ’s curried chicken dishes, and this may be the mildest, but it is the best. There are lots of good veggies and chicken, which seems to be of top notch quality.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a ton of very rich crust, but the portion is large enough for 2 meals.
Please never discontinue the Balti Pie. It's so good!
ReplyDeleteI could find nary a piece of chicken in my pie. Virtually no flavor, and certainly not spicy. Very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered that this British food had to be toned down for the American market?
ReplyDeleteI've lived in both countries extensively. You're spreading stereotypes about British food that come from the world of SNL gags rather than experience.
"Got hot sauce in my bag. Swag."
ReplyDeletePut hot sauce on it or any other spice one cares to enjoy. For a pie that has so many virtues—good crust, texture—one can certainly go the distance to the pantry and find a few things to adjust the taste.
Love,
a woman from the same city as Beyonce