Product: Amy’s Bowls Chili Mac
Description: A frozen 9-ounce serving of organic elbow-shaped rice pasta mixed with an all-organic lineup of red beans, tofu crumbles, green chilies, onions and garlic. The ingredients are set in a sauce incorporating tomatoes, butter and white cheddar.
Preparation summary: Pierce the plastic overwrap, and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Then remove wrap entirely, stir, and cook on high an additional minute. For conventional ovens, which we don’t recommend because of the inordinate amount of time it takes to cook: Remove overwrap, cover with foil, and bake for 40 minutes. Stir, then bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
High points: Tofu crumbles cloaked by the thick sauce will make you swear it’s ground beef. But after thrice reading the ingredient list, we can confirm this all-organic meal is vegetarian-safe. Also, thumbs up to the red beans strewn throughout. They were tender and nourishing.
Low points: The sauce is too heavy and gluey, as it takes on a double dose of starch from the rice pasta and the beans. Overall, the lackluster flavor profile begs for extra green chilies—or ideally jalapenos or hatch chilies. Lastly, why can’t Amy’s Kitchen round out the portion size to 10 ounces? This is three spoonfuls short of satisfying.
Average Retail Price: $4.29
Availability: Most major grocery stores
I have had this item more than once and it is pretty good. I agree with your heavy and gluey sauce assessment.