{"id":5591,"date":"2024-12-23T01:06:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T01:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/?p=5591"},"modified":"2025-09-27T14:15:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T18:15:00","slug":"tasty-bite-indian-madras-lentils-costco-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/23\/tasty-bite-indian-madras-lentils-costco-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Tasty Bite Indian Madras Lentils (Costco) Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bland, and yet somehow “tasty.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been buying these Tasty Bite Indian Madras Lentils<\/a> from Costco for more than 2 years now, and I finally decided it was time to review them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m afraid it will sound (at first) as though I don’t<\/em> like these \u2014 but I actually do<\/em>. I like them. I eat them regularly. They aren’t<\/em> bursting with flavor or excitement, but they are stable and reliable. Like a healthy human relationship. You know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em> as a meal, however. Sometimes there’s a little<\/em> leftover \u2014 an awkward amount, but rarely two full<\/em> servings. Just sayin.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about the nutrition facts per serving later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(For another shelf-stable imported Indian curry, check out my review of this Butter Chickpeas & Veggies meal<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 you can read my review here<\/a>). Not bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, yes. But what do they taste like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(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<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the texture is “creamy.” This is partially from the soft, mashed texture of the lentils, and partly from actual cream<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Do you prefer stronger flavor and more spiciness? Check out my review of Deep Indian Kitchen Samosas<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Modifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/em> Whatever the mood dictates. It’s ok if I can’t feel my tongue afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients in Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here’s my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:<\/p>\n\n\n\n