Rating: | 8.6 / 10 |
Value for Money | 2.1 / 2.5 |
Taste | 1.9 / 2.5 |
Convenience | 2.2 / 2.5 |
Weight | 2.4 / 2.5 |
The Outdoor Gourmet Company provides freeze dried meals to the Australian market. As far as commercially pre-prepared meals go and as the name suggests, they are a high end, high taste product. I’m a big fan of nearly all the Outdoor Gourmet Company meals and while I will very happily eat any of them I have my favourites.
The Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce meal is very easy to prepare and as long as you can boil water then you are set with preparation time requiring only ten minutes. Although I will usually allow them to sit for 12 minutes and stir half way through. Unlike every other Outdoor Gourmet meal that I have tried, the recommended amount of water on this offering is off. Every time I make this meal I add the recommended amount of water (500 ml) and then remember the quantity recommendation is way out. I prefer my meal consistency slightly firmer and would recommend adding about 450ml rather than the full amount. The same goes for the yoghurt. I prefer my yoghurt slightly less watery so reduce the suggested amount by about 20 mls.
If you do reduce the amount of water the Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce tastes great, the texture is good and there is the right amount of seasoning although for my personal tastes I prefer something slightly spicier, but that’s just me. Having said that, this rice based dish is not my favourite choice from Outdoor Gourmet and its hard to say why. There is actually nothing wrong with it and most people will appreciate it but there’s just something missing that I can’t put my finger on.
Unlike other companies, Outdoor Gourmet focuses mainly on providing meals for two but this appears to be changing. I am happy to eat the twin serve particularly towards the end of a two week long trip when I am looking for more calories having used up my body’s reserves by this stage so will often pack some two person servings every 2-3 nights.
The obvious negative with any freeze dried meals, and in particular with Outdoor Gourmet offerings is the price. The normal price sits around the AUD $24.99 RRP mark and at about $12.50 per person that isn’t cheap. Having said that, how much do you pay for a fast food meal these days? However the products do have a long shelf life so you can stock up during the regular sales at the outdoor stores.
I have yet to use cold water (and there is no reason why you can’t) however you would need to allow more time (a couple of hours to be ready for eating). The meal comes in a bag that is well designed and the bottom opens out to provide a flat base for those minimalists who want to leave the bowl at home. The option exists to tear the top off the bag to allow easy access to the food but you if you have a long handled spoon you won’t need to tear the bag. My other reason for not tearing the top off the bag is that you minimise any mess and after you’re done because you can re-zip the zip lock.
The Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce is a very good meal option and I would add it to my meal rotation particularly during the colder months when you want something to spice up the end of the day. Most people will find this is an excellent choice and well worth considering.
Great choice for an easy to prepare meal whether it be on a short or long trip. The Outdoor Gourmet meals are really good for couples being just that little bit bigger which make all the difference after a week on the trail
You can purchase the Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce meal online from Macpac, Snowys, Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports
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The Outdoor Gourmet Company provides a range of 8 main meals in a twin serve size In addition to this current review these include:
Mediterranean Lamb and Black Olives
Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Wild Mushrooms and Lamb Risotto
AUD $24.99 RRP
Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce as purchased
The bottom of the bag opens out to provide a flat surface. Opening out the base will allow the meal to more evenly rehydrate. If you don’t open the base out, you will get ‘dry pieces’ in your dinner
Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce unrehydrated
Yoghurt powder before adding water
Outdoor Gourmet Tandoori Chicken with a Creamy Yoghurt Sauce rehydrated with yoghurt added
This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker
22 June 2024