Lidl's Budget Chinese Meal Emerges as Clear Winner in Supermarket Showdown
Ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, we conducted an extensive taste test of Chinese ready meals from seven major supermarkets to find the best alternative to traditional takeaway options. The goal was to identify meals that deliver on flavor, nutritional value, and affordability without compromising quality.
The Testing Methodology
We purchased Chinese-style meals-for-one from Asda, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons. Each meal was prepared according to package instructions in a standard microwave, with careful attention to cooking times and standing periods. Our testing panel evaluated each product based on three key criteria: price per 100 grams, overall flavor profile, and nutritional content including calories, saturated fat, sugar, and salt levels.
Supermarket Showdown: The Detailed Results
Morrisons Chinese Style Chicken Curry (£3.75 for 400g) proved disappointing with a runny, bland sauce and chewy chicken pieces. Despite fluffy rice, the overall experience earned only 2 out of 5 stars due to lackluster flavor and questionable ingredient combinations.
Sainsbury's Chinese Style Chicken Curry (£3.75 for 400g) offered mild flavors but lacked the expected spice kick for a curry. With five regular chicken pieces and hard rice in places, it received a middling 3 out of 5 stars for its adequate but unremarkable performance.
Lidl Chicken Curry (£2.69 for 400g) emerged as the surprise champion with its dark, thick sauce and fruity aroma. Containing ten pieces of mixed-size chicken and rice with generous peas and egg, this budget option delivered exceptional value and authentic takeaway-like flavors, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
Aldi Sweet & Sour Chicken (£2.79 for 400g) featured a bright red sauce with seven large, tender chicken pieces. However, the smoky flavor profile and insufficient egg in the rice limited its appeal, resulting in a 3 out of 5 star rating.
M&S Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken (£4.25 for 400g) presented eight substantial chicken chunks with peppers and pineapple in a dark red sauce. While the chicken was tender, the runny sauce and chewy brown rice with limited tanginess earned it 3 out of 5 stars despite its premium price point.
Asda Sweet & Sour Chicken (£3.32 for 400g) impressed with its orange-hued sauce, nine chicken chunks, and fragrant rice. The excellent sauce consistency and fresh taste profile secured a solid 4 out of 5 star rating.
Tesco Chinese Style Chicken Curry (£3.85 for 400g) surprised testers by containing no rice despite similar packaging to competitors. However, twelve tender chicken pieces in a creamy coconut sauce with well-balanced spices earned it 4 out of 5 stars for flavor and consistency.
Nutritional Considerations and Portion Feedback
Nutritional analysis revealed significant variations between products. Lidl's winning curry contained just 482 calories and 4.7g sugars—the lowest sugar content among all tested meals. M&S's offering packed 620 calories and 30g sugars, while Tesco's curry surprisingly contained only 207 calories. Salt content ranged from 1.06g in Tesco's meal to 3.2g in M&S's version.
An interesting observation emerged regarding portion sizes: male testers consistently reported insufficient quantities to feel fully satisfied, while female testers found the meals adequately filling. This highlights potential gender differences in portion expectations for ready meal products.
The Final Verdict
After comprehensive testing, three meals stood out as superior options: Asda's Sweet & Sour Chicken, Tesco's Chinese Style Chicken Curry, and Lidl's Chicken Curry. However, Lidl's budget-friendly offering secured the top position for its authentic takeaway-like qualities, exceptional value at just 67p per 100g, and impressive nutritional profile with low sugar content.
The testing panel unanimously agreed they would repurchase Lidl's £2.69 chicken curry, noting that a family of four could enjoy a complete 'cheat's takeaway' experience for slightly over ten pounds. This makes it an ideal solution for those seeking convenient, affordable alternatives to traditional restaurant or delivery options without sacrificing flavor satisfaction.
