With the new meal kits from Checkers, this could be an answer to most of them.
Though not a new concept (there are companies who are already in the same business), with Checkers, you can just walk in the store and buy a ready-packaged box that has all the measured ingredients you need to create delicious meals. This also saves you time from ordering in advance, and keeping all the food in the fridge.
Checkers Ready to Chef meals are available in 14 variants, including vegetarian meals. Every week, four variants will be on shelf and the boxes range between R119,99 and R179,99.
The meal boxes include pre-portioned fresh ingredients, instructions on what you need to do, as well as extra ingredients needed that aren’t included in your box. In most cases these are usually salt, pepper, sunflower oil, eggs, milk or even wine. There is also a recipe card with an easy-to-follow method.
True Love’s Food Editor Tumelo Sebopa had the pleasure of trying two of the Ready to Chef boxes. These are her thoughts:
1. Greek leg of lamb fillets on a bed of roasted tomatoes and butterbeans
The lamb was very succulent, and the roasted tomatoes and butterbeans were flavoursome. The portion size of the meal was enough for two but can be stretched to three portions, depending on how big or small your meal size. The method on the recipe card was straightforward.
2. Sweet and sour pork with jasmine rice
I really enjoyed this meal. The recipe was also easy to follow. The rice was sticky and fluffy – it tasted so good. The sweet and sour sauce was a bit too much, so I did not use all of it. I guess this depends on how saucy you prefer your meals. And boy was the pork tender! However, I’d add the bok choy at the very end of the cooking process so it remains crunchy.
Overall impression?
The kits are a real time-saver and are perfect for beginners.
They also make for a great menu if you’re hosting someone for dinner, or if you want to improve your culinary skills. My only concern is having meat and vegetables in one box at the same temperature. As a consumer, I worry about food safety and cross contamination. However, the meat and other ingredients are vacuum-sealed.
