Product Review: Very Lazy Cooking Concentrates

I was recently asked if I would like to try a cooking concentrate from the "Very Lazy" range by the English Provender Company.  I like to try new things and even though as a rule I cook from scratch rather than using ready made sauces I thought I would give it ago.   Turns out it's not really a sauce anyway but more an ingredient much like the curry pastes I already use.

I've been a fan of the English Provender Company (whose lemon curd kicks butt by the way) for a few years now having first discovered them at the BBC Good Food Show.  The Very Lazy Garlic has been a staple in my fridge for a good while as I find it's great for emergencies if I've run out of garlic cloves, or more often than not, they've started sprouting.

The Very Lazy cooking concentrates were launched last year and since then they've been adding to the range. I was sent a jar of the Caribbean Chicken which is one of their newest products.  

 

I decided to build this into my meal planning for the week as I thought it would be a good option for after work as it's hardly any effort and quick to cook.  All I had to do was add the chicken, pineapple and coconut milk. It took about 20mins from start to finish.  It really was that simple and if you're not somebody who enjoys cooking then these would be perfect for you because the recipe that comes with it is fool-proof.  Because the concentrates are really just a base, you can chuck in whatever else you like - you don't need to stick to the suggested recipe, the world is your oyster.

Our verdict? Lip-smacking good! I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was. It was incredibly tasty and full of flavour.  Mr M loved it too, we were both extremely impressed. It was just the right amount of fruity and spicy. The chilli in it gave it a proper kick, there's no way my children would cope with it so not really something for all the family unless your children are very keen on hot food, but I enjoy a spicy dish so I loved that element.  I served as suggested with a big pile of fluffy white basmati rice and we both had seconds!

 

Would I buy it? Yes, for sure! It would be a great thing to have in the cupboard for those days when you haven't got a lot of time or inspiration. I'm excited now to try out some of the other concentrates like the Posh Sausage Casserole and  the Stroganoff.

 

Finally, it's worth noting the ingredients list;

Onions, water, sugar, pineapple pieces in juice (pineapple, pineapple juice), mango puree, vegetable oil, ginger puree, red chilli puree, concentrated lime juice, salt, thyme, red chilli, cinnamon, cayenne, pimento, nutmeg, black pepper.

 

There's nothing nasty in there which made me feel a whole lot better about using a ready-prepared product!

 

The Very Lazy concentrates can be found in Asda stores or you can buy the whole Very Lazy range online.

 

love & kisses

Mrs M x