Tasty Bite Indian Madras Lentils (Costco) Review
Author’s Note: This is a completely unpaid and unbiased review. I don’t work for Costco, and I have no affiliation with Tasty Bite.
Bland, and yet somehow “tasty.”
I’ve been buying these Tasty Bite Indian Madras Lentils from Costco for more than 2 years now, and I finally decided it was time to review them.
I’m afraid it will sound (at first) as though I don’t like these — but I actually do. I like them. I eat them regularly. They aren’t bursting with flavor or excitement, but they are stable and reliable. Like a healthy human relationship. You know.
These ready-to-eat packets come in an 8-pack box, and each pouch supposedly serves two people. I almost always eat the whole pouch as a meal, however. Sometimes there’s a little leftover — an awkward amount, but rarely two full servings. Just sayin.’
More about the nutrition facts per serving later.
This is definitely a convenience item. The pouches can be microwaved and ready to eat in 1 minute. You can even eat the lentils right out of the bag, if you are a desperate barbarian. Hey, we don’t judge. Not very much, anyway.
I typically eat my lentils over homemade basmati rice. A half-cup of dry rice cooks up to the right amount for 1 pouch of Tasty Bite. Sometimes, I use the leftovers as a sauce, such as this filet of Mahi-Mahi (also from Costco — you can read my review here). Not bad.
Yes, yes. But what do they taste like?
I would describe the taste as very, very mild. Bordering on bland. No spiciness. No heat. The primary legumes are “black lentils,” but the flavor is very similar to black beans. So, if you like black beans, you’ll probably enjoy this.
Punctuating the soft beany-muck are large, whole red kidney beans. I like these, because they break up the gloopy, semi-fluid monotony of the lentil mush.
(Do you enjoy bland legumes? Perhaps you would like this German Pea Soup from Aldi. I hated it. You can read my snarky review here.)
Overall, the texture is “creamy.” This is partially from the soft, mashed texture of the lentils, and partly from actual cream in the sauce. Yay, cream! Although there is also tomato paste here, it’s not individually distinguishable. It does give a verrrry subtle “brightness” to the taste.
Modifications
Because I opt to heat my lentils in a skillet, rather than the microwave, I can easily add extra spiciness, if I choose. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. A quick sprinkle of cayenne, smoked paprika, or Kashmiri chili kicks this up a notch. Or many notches. All the notches. Whatever the mood dictates. It’s ok if I can’t feel my tongue afterwards.
I’ve also been known to eat these lentils with cooked veggies, like broccoli or carrots. I like veggies almost as much as lentils. Almost as much as cream. And that’s really saying something.
And, of course, you can always throw some extra protein in here. Like some cooked chicken, or fish. These beans are a versatile base for unlimited modifications.
Ingredients in Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils
Here’s my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Water
- Black Lentils
- Red Kidney Beans
- Cream
- Tomato Paste
- Less than 2% of: Dried Onion, Butter, Salt, Sunflower Oil and/or Canola Oil and/or Soybean Oil, Cumin Powder, Chili Pepper Powder, Dried Ginger
I admire the straightforward simplicity of these ingredients. If relationships were this uncomplicated, the world would be a healthier place.
The only thing I don’t like is the “Sunflower Oil and/or Canola Oil and/or Soybean Oil.” Make up yer dang mind.
More information from the label:
- Imported from India
- Certified Organic
- Gluten Free
- Vegetarian
- Kosher (Dairy)
- BPA Free
Nutrition Facts in Madras Indian Lentils from Tasty Bite
Supposedly, each pouch has 2 servings of 2/3 cup each. A serving has 150 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein. That’s not very much protein. Heck, that’s not very much anything. If your entire lunch is only 150 calories, I’ve got questions.
There’s an impressive amount of fiber per serving at 6 grams, and 6% each of your daily value of iron and potassium.
Price and Servings
The 8-pack box costs $14.79 at Costco. It’s only increased very slightly in price since I joined Costco 2.5 years ago. I’m poor, so I usually wait for these to go on sale, in which case the price is around $11. This still feels like a lot, TBH. But I’m buying it anyway. Apparently.
At the regular price, each pouch costs $1.85. If you managed to get two servings from each pouch, the price per serving would be about 93 cents.
Shelf Life
The “best by” date on my Tasty Bite Lentils allows me approximately a year to consume. These are shelf-stable, so I store them in my pantry. Good emergency food for hurricanes, too. *waves to fellow Floridians*
Cooking Instructions
The label provides two methods to heat the lentils:
- Microwave: “Tear pouch 2″ to vent and heat on high for 1 minute (ovens may vary).”
- Stove Top: “Pour contents in pan; heat on low for 4 minutes, or until hot, stirring occasionally.”
Dramatic Conclusion
I keep buying these Tasty Bite lentils, so I must like them. They are bland, but good. The convenience factor is strong. The downside is that they don’t provide much food for the money — 150 calories is just a snack. I said what I said.
The End.
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