Aldi Indian Curry Butter Chickpeas & Veggies Review
Author’s Note: Not a paid review. These are my own spicy opinions. I have no affiliation with Aldi.
Please be salty. Like me.
So, Aldi is importing ready-to-eat meals directly from India now. Some of my favorite brands of grocery store Indian food are also imported (such as Deep brand), so I was eager to give this “Earth Grown” store-brand curry a try.
How spicy is it?
The first whiff from the open pouch had a distinct cinnamon vibe. There’s a gentle spiciness from ginger and chilis that builds gradually, but never reaches “heat.” Although I liked the flavor of the spice mixture, I felt it was a bit too subtle. I prefer a stronger curry flavor overall. Despite the “sweet” cinnamony spices, this isn’t a sweet sauce. This does not make me sad.
(If you’re a fan of sweet curries, here’s my review of Kevin’s Thai-Style Coconut Curry.)
The vegetable texture
There are huge hunks of white potato, and medium-size chunks of carrots (with the skins still on). There are no obvious sweet potato cubes. While not mushy, the veggies are VERY soft. The chickpeas are firmer, but still quite tender. The potato texture reminds me a bit of “canned” potatoes. Not terrible, but different from freshly cooked texture. Ya know.
The sauce texture
The sauce is thick and mysterious. It’s not especially “creamy,” (despite having cream as one of the ingredients) but it does have a pleasant viscosity. It has more of a chunky mashed vegetable texture than smooth, buttery “cream.” I am assuming this is where the sweet potatoes are hidden, in this ambiguous orange mash.
(For another quick, vegetarian Indian meal, check out my review of these Organic Madras Lentils, which also come in shelf-stable pouches.)
Where is the spinach?
I couldn’t find any obvious spinach in mine. Sparse spinach seems to be a theme with Aldi products. You can read more spirited spinach speeches in my reviews of Aldi’s Spinach Manicotti or Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli. Where is the spinach, Aldi? Where?
It needs salt.
Y’all. It needs salt. It’s heckin’ bland otherwise. I salted mine generously, and it helped all the flavors to “pop.” Especially if you’re serving this over a bland carbohydrate, like rice, it will need that extra salty kick. Just saying.
Is this a full meal?
A pouch is a single serving, but is not very filling by itself. The label suggests serving with naan bread or rice. I ate mine over basmati rice with some leftover cooked broccoli that was languishing in my refrigerator. This combination was plenty filling! There’s a whopping 7 grams of fiber, which enhances satiety. Plus, rice/grains help to complete the protein of the chickpeas/legumes.
Ingredients in Aldi Butter Chickpeas & Veggies Indian Meal
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Water
- Chickpeas
- Potato
- Carrot
- Onion
- Sweet Potato
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Cream (Milk)
- Tomato Paste
- Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Milk), Sunflower Oil, Garlic Paste, Ginger Paste, Salt, Spices, Chili Paste, Fenugreek Leaf
This butter curry is made in India.
More information from the label:
- Certified Vegetarian
- BPA Free Pouch
- No Artificial Colors, Flavors, or Preservatives
Nutrition Facts
A serving is one 285 gram pouch and contains 251 calories. You get 9 grams of fat (2 grams saturated fat) and 12 grams of protein. There’s 36 grams total carbohydrates, of which 7 grams are fiber and 8 grams are sugars (only 1 gram “added sugar”). You also get a surprisingly robust 27% your daily value of iron and 25% your daily value potassium. There’s 27% your daily value sodium, but only 3% cholesterol.
Price and Servings
The 10.05 ounce pouch cost $2.85 at my local Aldi. For being a vegetarian meal and a small-ish serving, this isn’t an eye-popping bargain. But not an unjust price, either.
Aldi currently sells two other versions of these vegetarian curry meals:
- Chickpea & Veggie Korma
- Lentil & Veggie Tikka Masala
I found these in the dry goods aisle, with the pasta sauces and rice.
Shelf Life
My pouch had a best-by date that allowed approximately 1 year to consume. This is a shelf-stable product, so I stored mine in my pantry. Great hurricane food. *waves to my Florida peeps*
Heating Instructions
The label offers two ways to heat this meal:
- Microwave: 90 seconds on “High”
- Stove Top: 3-5 minutes in a saucepan
I didn’t follow these instructions. I put cooked rice on a plate, poured the saucy meal on top, and then microwaved it for about 2 minutes. Quick and easy.
Dramatic Conclusion
For mild curry lovers, this is a pleasant option. The textures and flavors are slightly “canned” tasting, but still good. It’s got a decent nutrition profile, for being a vegetarian meal. The price is OK. I might buy it again!
On my super scientific “Awesome-o-Meter,” this scores a quizzical “Maybe.”
The End.
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