Sometimes I really need a quick meal to have on hand. I am a stay-at-home mom of a toddler, with a baby on the way, so cooking is often the last thing on my mind! But, despite wanting quick and easy meals, I try to keep them healthy. I tried a few Annie Chun's products and decided I would give her szechuan noodles a try.
"a Classic Chinese fusion of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors over our delicious, soft ramen noodles. Tangy tomato with premium Gochujang red pepper and a hint of ginger make this unique dish a memorable meal." (WorldPantry.com)
Annie Chun's Spicy Szechuan Noodle Express
I bought this product at the grocery store, and a single box cost $2.89. You get a box of noodles that comes in biodegradable tray. You can buy multi-packs at places like Amazon.com, but I would recommend at least trying a single pack before committing to a larger pack!
I made this meal in the microwave, and it was a little confusing. The noodles come in a clear sealed bag and you put them in the try. Then you open a foil packet of toppings and place those on the noodles. Lastly you are supposed to "pour sauce over topping", but the confusing part is that the sauce packet says "add to taste" which I would think is kind of tough when the sauce isn't mixed in until after you cook the meal.
After a minute in the microwave you are supposed to mix everything, and the meal is ready. I found that there were some chunks of noodles that were still firm and stuck together, so I mixed everything together and popped the dish in the microwave for another 10-15 seconds. (The directions do say for "about" one minute "depending on microwave strength).
The noodles look and taste a little different from how I expected. The noodles on the box look oily or at least moist with sauce, but my noodles were kind of dry and sticky. They weren't mushy or falling apart or anything, but they didn't look anywhere as near as good as the box!
This dish is spicy, but not unbearably so. I am used to spicy foods and the spiciness was just about right for me. Definitely some burn but not uncomfortable and not too weak either.
As for the flavor, the taste is ok. There is a little bit of a sweet taste which I don't particularly like (the box does mention "sweet and spicy". Otherwise the flavors seem about average, with chili and peppers and some other typical ingredients. I did think this dish was salty enough even with the sweetness.
Now I'm 8 months pregnant, but seriously, the "2 servings per container" seems like a joke to me. (One serving is 170 calories). First of all, I doubt these noodles would save well, and secondly, I have no problem eating an entire box myself (and I'm small). I would not save a handful of noodles as a separate meal for another time.
This meal comes in a "biodegradable tray that decomposes in the soil with no harm to the earth." I appreciate the effort to be environmentally friendly, and I compost these containers. I should mention though that I tossed an Annie Chun Noodle Bowl in the compost last summer and it is still pretty much intact, so it takes a while to start breaking down!
Overall
I can't say I liked this noodle dish much. The taste wasn't anything great, the serving size too small (although I am fine when I eat the whole thing!), and the consistency of the noodles wasn't really appealing. I have tried other Annie Chun products that are much better, but I can definitely say that I wouldn't purchase this one again. Honestly I would rather have a packet of spicy ramen noodles (and I'm not talking about the unhealthy ones that have MSG in them, I'm talking about brands like Koyo). I definitely expected more from this product.
Case of six 7.4-ounce microwave bowls (total of 44.4 ounces) A classic Chinese fusion of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors over soft ramen noodles...More at Amazon
No MSG. Microwaveable. No Preservatives. Ready in 1 Miunte. All Natural Asian Cuisine. Fresh Cooked Ramen Noodles. I love the flavorful complexity of...More at VitaCost.com
Case of six 7.4-ounce microwave bowls (total of 44.4 ounces) A classic Chinese fusion of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors over soft ramen noodles...More at Amazon Marketplace
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