Madras Lentils a good side dish
589920
I've been eating various Indian retorted veggie entrees for a while now -- we use them as side dishes when I cook main dishes that may be, but aren't always, Indian. The Madras Lentils remind me a lot of really good Louisiana Red Beans (as in Red Beans & Rice--with or without sausage). Very flavorful and actually a bit meaty in taste. I first encountered them at Trader Joe's but it seems that they are going over to their own labels and they wouldn't admit that they were using TastyBite (see someone else's review of Punjabi Eggplant)so I'll stick with the original. I've also tried, and liked, the Punjabi Eggplant.
4954219
first thing I made was heavenly - I had been planning on making a menu and a shopping trip so I could have a big Indian food cook-up, but I got lazy and cravey for good food and just inventoried my cupboard and fridge and scoured the book to find a recipe that fit my ingredients.  About 90 minutes later I had the most lovely kashmiri rogan josh that I served over coconut cauliflower "rice".  I find that she uses a lot of yogurt based sauces which worried my dairy intolerant head (and stomach) a bit, but then I used cultured coconut milk instead and noticed not one bit of difference in taste :)

The only thing I found odd was no mention of paneer, but then again, I wouldn't probably miss the dairy :)

I would say that most of the recipes are not difficult, but they are particular and somewhat time consuming (although there are a few that come together fairly quickly)  However, since most of these foods taste just as good or better the next day, cook 1 day and have leftovers. (yummy yummy leftovers) :)
1564872
If you like Indian food this is a great side condiment. Even can be used to flavor meat cuts and sandwiches... but use sparingly as it's really strong .. but amazing stuff!!!
3956244
The rice dish was good tasting, flavorful. I made it as a side dish with sliced sirloin. However, my family would  prefer less sodium.
4877502
This was recommended by a friend from Malaysia.  I added a bit of chili powder and Madras curry powder and the result was fantastic.
1825295
I'm not sure why salt was a necessary part of this spice blend (other than its function as a filler, thus leaving the customer with less actual spice).  However, the quality of the spices are good.  This makes a sick Ethiopian lentil stew, people who've tried it said that my version is better than what they've had at restaurants, and I really think I owe it to the spice blend. It's really great for lamb too!
307761
Best product for Indian cooking!!! Especially for south Indians who cooks lentils daily like us:-)
Have been using since one year but very frequently since 6 months. Wish this product can be used in India too  and would like to gift friends and Faily.
3897621
If you love Indian dishes then get this one.  The writer offers some useful short cut ideas, such as ginger garlic paste and onion masala (which make the lowly lentil dish Dal Fry really incredible)  I've made several recipes and we have loved all so far.  I'm giving this as a gift to a friend who is getting an IP for Christmas.  She loves Indian and spicy foods.
My only con is that most of the recipes are for 4 servings, but I have doubled them without any losses in flavor.
2668253
This is the second of these Gits Ready Meals that I have tried. My first was the Jeera Rice & Dal Tadka. This second is the Paneer Makhani. Both are about the same--not bad for a heat-up Indian meal, but not amazing. The ingredients are phenomena for processed food. It's all ... food. Like, actual food. No unpronounceable chemicals or bizarre preservatives. Just the same things I would put together in a pot if I was going to make the same dish.

Perpetration is easy. The rice and dal come in two separate bags, and you can either microwave them or heat them up in boiling water. I went with the water method again. They recommend 3-5 minutes, but I kept it in for 7 minutes. It still wasn't as hot as I would have liked. More lukewarm, and the rice was hard and clumped together. I think for my next experiment I will go with the microwave and see if that is any better of a preparation method.

The flavor was good. It wasn't amazing. Like with the Dal Tadka,  I wish had been a lot stronger. This is "mild," which I'm not a huge fan of.  I "improved" the flavors on my own and using my own spice bottle, which definitely made it better. I know not everyone likes things spicy, but this was on the bland side. Still, yummy once I fixed it up a bit. The paneer was chewy with good constancy. It's definitely not on par with fresh made Indian food, but a nice substitute for when you need it!

All in all it was pretty good. Definitely a level above standard processed food, and the ingredients list can't be beat!

Sample provided for review.
216552
Strongly spiced with a small amount of heat. Very tasty! Some veggies. A good amount of rice and lentils. I normally don't like lentils but this was fine.
475697
I made this for the first time tonight and it was really good served with steamed rice.  I used a shredded rotisserie chicken (bones & skin removed) and basically skipped to the 3rd step in the instructions.  The sauce was creamy with a slight kick (about the same as a 1 star at my local Thai restaurant).  This is not as good as restaurant curry, but it is great for a weeknight dinner that I make in less than 20 minutes.  My husband loved it.
3855817
Yum! If you have a houseful of people who are afraid of spicy curry, this curry that is made for Indian deserts is a good way to break them in. I use it for chicken dishes and my kids are crazy for it. Next step is to add a little heat! But this one is very mild and is probably quite a good choice for the average American palate.
698218
This is amazing Indian food that you can make at home without having to go out, the tandoori is awesome and I also suggest the butter chicken.
675448
I am not a cook so this is perfect for me.  If you add corn, carrots, celery and some spices this is a great last minute meal.

If you substitute turkey or chicken instead of beef, it is even healthier.  Add a green salad on the side and you have a nice dinner.
968214
I use these as both a side dish as well as the basis for a one-dish dinner.  The flavor is good, not too 'mettalic' as some boxed rice dishes can be.  The bits of broccoli are smaller than the package picture indicates, but you can still taste it well enough.  Add sauted fresh vegetables and chicken tenders [or beef stir fry, or shrimp] and you've got a quick one-dish meal.  Good value for the money.
3126792
I'm going back and getting the rest of the soup on the shelf and leave here at work for emergencies. The Golden Lentil is the only one they have. I looked it up on Amazon...because , THAT's WHAT I DO. But alas, Amazon didn't come through this time.
I liked this soup and it's convenience. It has a kick...not bland.  It is also vegetarian.
1986311
This book has quickly become one of my most used cookbooks.  The book contains a wide variety of easy to cook recipes, including many tasty sambars, rasams, curries, and side dishes.  There is nothing fancy about the book and I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed when I removed it from the box.  However, the disappointment turned to delight when I tried the recipes.  Everything I cooked was delicious and well enjoyed by my family.  The recipes were fairly easy to prepare, used a manageable number of ingredients, and cooked fairly quickly.  Most recipes use a combination of red lentils, coconut and/or tamarind, giving them the distictive and familiar south indian taste.  If you are interested in learning south indian cooking, I suggest you give this book a try.