Chinese food is admittedly one of my guilty pleasures, as I find the food absolutely delicious despite falling into a level of unhealthiness that could send a person with high blood pressure into fits. The chance to enjoy some of my favorite meals from the buffet, recreated as a healthy dish for lunch, is exciting though worrisome at the same time. While a dish may be healthy (or at least healthier) in comparison to its inspiration, healthy does not necessarily mean yummy. Of course, as the old saying goes: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." So let's get started.
First up is the Sweet Sesame Chicken!
Calories: 340
Fat: 5 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 17 g
Sodium: 330 mg
Carbs: 55 g
"Chicken Tenderloins with Rice and Vegetables in Sweet & Spicy Sesame Sauce"
First and foremost, this dish definitely lives up to its "sweet" name. I would best describe it as somewhat of a dull sweetness that relies almost entirely on honey, countered by a spicy heat that is minuscule at best. The sweet (and spicy according to the box but not my taste buds) sauce, while refreshing for the first few bites, quickly becomes boring and somewhat bland.
As opposed to extra spice (which isn't what one looks for in their sesame chicken), I feel that additional salt was needed to improve the dish somewhat. With a sodium count of 330 mg (surprisingly low for a Chinese meal), the sesame chicken excels from a health mindset. But the lack of sodium and boring sauce are hindrances on a dish that had the potential to be a sweet, delicious surprise in contrast to the super-salty sesame chicken found at many Chinese restaurants.
Adding to the "meh" factor of this dish is the white rice. For me, rice is used to mix up with a delicious sauce and allow you to eat it with a fork while also providing texture to each bite. The problem here is that the white rice contributes no flavor whatsoever and leaves the sauce just as "meh" as ever. A serving of brown rice would have added some subtle flavor that would have helped redeem the dish somewhat.
The vegetables were good overall, tasting fresh (as much as frozen vegetables can) and adding some much needed texture. The mushrooms were a personal favorite, as it is rare to have them in a microwaveable meal and not be disgustingly slimy. There is a downside however, the snow pea pods. Not only did they lack any particular taste, but they were very soggy and limp. Not quite to the point of being mushy, but disturbingly close.
Finally, the chicken. The protein. The main attraction of any meat eater's breakfast/lunch/dinner. Well, to continue the pattern..."meh". The tenderloin pieces have some [very] light seasoning aside from the sauce, and are of average quality at best. They were very dry as well, which could mean that I cooked it too long in the microwave. If that is true however, then this particular dish heats up faster than any other Café Steamers dish I've ever had.
Was this a delicious lunch? No.
Was this a bad lunch? No.
The Café Steamers Sweet Sesame Chicken falls into a very gray area for me. It's not bad by any means, a decently sized meal that doesn't offend the senses with any mystery smells or gross textures (though the pea pods did come close). Yet at the same time, I have no desire to eat this meal ever again. If Healthy Choice ever changes the recipe a little, like using whole grain brown rice instead of white or even adding a small amount of sodium/salt to counter the dull sweetness of the sauce, I may consider trying this again.
In Short: "Meh"
*** Overall Score: 2.5 / 5
Check back next week for part 2! General Tso's Spicy Chicken!
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