Value for Money

Chicken Tikka Masala ready meals

Dunnes Stores  €2.99 for 450g, € 7.47 per kg

It is a measure of how good this was that we only intended to sample it, but ended up eating an entire packet. The pilau rice is lovely, filled with flavour and retaining a decent bite – although it is a bit greasier than we might have liked. The six good-sized pieces of chicken breast are nicely textured and taste comparatively unprocessed. The sauce is filled with pieces of onion and tomato and it has a mellow but still discernable spicy kick to it.

Verdict:Surprisingly good ****

Weightwatchers  €3.49 for 400g, €8.72 per kg

This is only five-and-a-half Weightwatcher points, which, we think is fairly low and 363 calories per pack, which we are certain, is very low. It is made with just 16 per cent chicken, which is nearly half what we got in the Dunnes option. The sauce is quite thick and has a nice tomato flavour with just the merest hint of curry. It is a long way from brilliant, but it is a lot better than some of the Weightwatchers sauces we have tried in the past. The basmati rice looks the part, but was just a little too soggy and did not taste of much.

Verdict: Just fine ***

Marks Spencer  €4.49 for 400g, €11.25 per kg

You want creamy? You got it. This is made with 22 per cent of the stuff which makes it extremely luscious – and perhaps a little pricier too. The chicken has been blackened – by what, or why we have no idea. While that makes it look a little too processed, it actually tastes lovely and not at all rubbery as you might expect from a ready meal. The rice is bursting with fresh coriander flavours and while it could have been less dry and more light and fluffy, it was perfectly fine. This comparatively small meal will account for 660 calories and half your daily salt intake. And did we mention the creaminess?

Verdict:Hmmmmmm creamy ***

Bombay Pantry  €4.79 for 330g, €14.51 per kg

This is the only product that doesn’t come with rice which arguably puts it at a disadvantage when it comes to convenience. It certainly makes it look more expensive than it is. The reality is that any minor inconvenience that comes with having to cook the rice is more than offset by the quality of this ready meal which comes from a wildly popular Indian takeaway chain in Dublin. While this may not be as good as an actual Bombay Pantry takeaway, it is pretty close and this stands head and shoulders above the competition. It is also the product that can, most probably, serve two people.

Verdict: Hard to beat *****

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