A sponsored post for Woolworths
There’s a new kid (or should I say kit) in the Created with Jamie range this July that Woolworths have just launched. I’ve been asked to trial out 3 of the new products in the range of 6 fresh ready to cook meal kits. While previously I have looked at products that are a protein where you create and add your own sides like Ultimate lamb shoulder, various chicken dishes, pork belly, and BBQ Vietnamese chicken & Burgers these kits are a little different. Based on Jamie’s popular recipes, the meal kits include all the fresh components (protein, carbohydrate, vegetables and sauce) pre-measured in the pack ready for you to cook. They are super easy with 5 simple steps and cook quickly with some in just 15 mins and others to a maximum of 45 mins. They serve 2 people and are packed with the flavour you know you will get in this range. The ingredients are sourced locally using only higher welfare meats and are perfect to have in the fridge for quick midweek meals.
I can see these meals being used by tired parents who possibly eat later in the night after their kids, for professional couples that want something easy and quick to make when you they home late from work and don’t want to think or just an easy shortcut meal for housemates. The smaller serves mean it’s not really geared for family cooking but it’s a perfect mid week ready-made cheat solution that busy people sometimes need.
So, let’s take a look at the three that I trialled out.
1. Chilli con carne meatballs $14.99
All the packs come with easy to follow cooking instructions in 5 steps.
And with all the various ingredients packed in ready to go in separate compartments: meatballs, pre-cooked bulgar, the sauce, veggies and fresh spinach.
Firstly you fry up the meatballs and veggies until brown, then add in the sauce until thickened. In the meantime, warm up the nutty bulgar wheat in the microwave.
To serve, toss the baby spinach leaves through the sauce and spoon on top of the bulgar wheat.
The meatballs were well flavoured and my favourite bit was the bulgar which I wouldn’t normally cook myself because I wouldn’t think of it, or know how to cook it. Harper especially enjoyed these meatballs so don’t worry about there being too much spice or chilli – they were very mild.
2. Sticky BBQ Beef & Cajun rice $14.99
Firstly cook up the veggies until seared then set aside, add the beef to the hot pan and cook for a few minutes either side.
Then add in the BBQ sauce and simmer for a few minutes whilst warming up the Cajun rice in the microwave.
To serve, spoon the sticky beef over the rice.
I found the rice slightly under done but the flavours on the beef good. Again, not overly spicy but the sauce a little sweet for my liking, although Rob really enjoyed it.
3. Five spice chicken noodles $14.99
Firstly fry up the chicken in a little olive oil until brown (about 5-7 minutes) then add in some of the sauce then set aside.
Next cook up the veggies, add in the noddles with the rest of the sauce and toss through the chicken at the end.
This was my favourite of the 3 with good flavour in the chicken from the Chinese five spice. The chicken caramelised really well and had a great colour to it. Again the sauce was a little too sweet for me but there were plenty of veggies to make up for it.
I served up one of these meals to the girls after hockey practice (when we needed to have dinner, and fast. 15 minutes later they were sitting down to noodles and I was able to deal with the baby without having to think about anything. Win!
So what was the overall verdict? For these kinds of meals (that won’t be for everyone I know) the fact that you can go from nothing to a tasty meal that you have actually cooked, rather than just heated up in under 20 minutes using fresh ingredients? Well that’s a tick for me. In each of them there were some components that I preferred over others but they all provided a tasty and quick meal and as that’s exactly what they are geared towards.
There is a whole range of Created with Jamie meal kits available exclusively to Woolworths from July all priced $14.99 and serve two. They are available in select stores and can be found in the convenience meals area in the fresh department. There are also some created by Australian chef Kylie Kwong who has partnered with Woolies. You can see the full range of them here.
Do you ever cook these kind of pre-packaged meals for one or two?
What do you look for when choosing them?
I’ve tried a few of these (when they’ve been reduced for sale). While I love the flavours and the ease of bunging it all together on nights we’re late home from swimming, I’ve found that my husband is still hungry after some of them!
(I had to make him an omelette after the five spice chicken noodles!) 🙂
That said, I think farmers have bigger appetites that the general population!
They just might!
It definitely just served the two of us…when I made the noodles for the girls I managed to get a pick afterwards. SO easy!
I saw some of these for about $4.95 and was tempted to get them but then I realised I’d probably be the only one eating them and I’m already sporting a 5-month pregnant bump look-a-like so I went for wraps and avocados instead. But next time I’m going to do – just perfect when I’m home alone and working. xx
They would be perfect…that said Harper enjoyed 2 of them.
We’re big fans of Jamie’s products in our house! So good for time-poor couples who work full time and don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Made for people like you guys!
I wouldn’t have thought of these but they look like a great idea and cheaper than takeout for a quick meal.
Perfect for peeps like you and Jimbo x
Big fan of Jamie’s products here … will give these a go. I agree, great for a couple meal on the go mid-week.
Perfect!
We love love love these! Like you I’ve found the sauce too sweet but that seems to be taken care of by adding a bunch more veggies. Just easy vege like cutting corn off a cob, whole snow peas, broccoli quickly cut up, or frozen peas etc. Also stretches the meal further to another person or some leftovers.
Good tips – thanks Bec 🙂
I loved the brekkie one!
I’ve seen those but haven’t tried them yet…now I will. Thanks Fiona!
Yum, these look great. I’ve tried some of Jamie’s marinated meats before and everything I’ve tried has been good and I’ve often picked them up on special too – even better!
I find that anything that serves 2 adults comfortably serves our three boys under 9, so sometimes having meals like these in the fridge is perfect for when we have a date night so we want to make them something easy but tasty for dinner before we go out. x
Perfect! Agree you can always get some bargains on these!