Daawat Rice Saute Sauce Review – We Tried 3 Variants

Appliances or ready-to-use mixes, we’re all for products that make our cooking experience a breeze. 

A brand we commonly associate with varieties of rice grains has introduced its saute sauces. We reviewed three variants- Masala, Manchurian, and Schezwan for our Daawat Rice Saute Sauce review.

Do these saute sauces pack in flavors?

All you need to know about the three Daawat Sauces is discussed here. 

We were looking for fresh and prominent flavors with a pleasing texture. How many servings does one pack hold? Are these preservative-free sauces truly convenient?

1. Flavor

Are the flavor tags justified? Do the ingredients and aromatics make their presence felt prominently? Or were the flavors on the milder side?

2. Freshness 

Dull and lacking flavor or undesirably bitter- this is how spices taste when they’re too old or have gone bad. Moreover, these sauces contain oil. Was it fresh? Did the sauces emit a displeasing odor?

3. Texture

Packaging

Is it leak-proof? Are the pouches resealable? Are the sauces dual-packed?

Main Ingredients

Are the quantities of ingredients mentioned? What about fat and sugar? Do these sauces use similar ingredients that one would use at home?

Price

If the sauces turn to become a pantry staple, are they pocket-friendly?

Shelf Life

What is the shelf life of these saute sauces?

‘Mix, stir, serve’ reads the pack. The royal blue packs feature appetizing graphics of the rice meals and at the back cooking instructions, ingredients, calories, and other relevant information has been mentioned. 

Price & Packaging

A 50-gram pack is priced at Rs 30/- and has a shelf life of 18 months. The spice index features three chilies indicating this would be quite spicy.

Main Ingredients

Water, curd, dehydrated onion flakes, edible common salt, sunflower oil, spices and condiments (red chilli powder, coriander, cumin, turmeric, clove, cardamom, cinnamon), desi ghee, tomato paste, garlic, ginger, green chilli paste, hydrolyzed veg protein (Soy), edible cornstarch, onion powder and thickening agent (E415).

Taste & Texture

The sauce had a fresh and natural aroma during both- the raw and cooking stage. This has a very homestyle aroma, an orange-brown appearance and we could see some onion flakes as well.

As suggested, we mixed the 50-gram pack with 150 grams of cooked rice. This ratio was spot-on, there were no adjustments needed. The sauce had coated all rice grains evenly and no bite felt dry or bland. 

Taste-wise, this justified the masala tag pretty well due to its well-rounded flavor. While black cardamom and cinnamon were most prominent, we could also taste black pepper and green cardamom. The earthy flavors of cumin enhanced the flavor profile. This sauce had a warmth from garam masala. That said, it was not the spiciness of red chilli. The fried onions added the distinct sweetness, making the flavors well-balanced.

Price & Packaging

Similar to the above variant, a 50-gram pack is priced at Rs 30 and has a shelf life of 18 months. This featured one chilli on the spice index which indicates a low spice level.

Main Ingredients

Water, onion, garlic, sunflower oil, dark soy sauce (water, sugar, soybean extract, caramel color (E150c), carrot, edible common salt, ginger, dehydrated onion flakes, coriander leaves, edible cornstarch, hydrogenated veg protein(soy), acidity regulator (E260), onion powder, tomato powder, red chilli powder and thickening agent (E415)

Taste & Texture

This had a deep brown hue and had no synthetic aroma. Following the same ratio (50 grams of the saute sauce with 150 grams of rice), we had a perfectly prepared bowl of Manchurian rice. This also had some diced carrot bits which did not lend a soft bite. All grains were coated well and this sauce ensured the rice retained the fluffy texture and did not become sticky.

Typically, Manchurian is a blend of sweet, savory, spicy, and umami flavors. It may sound complex but this flavor profile (when prepared with the right proportions) is appetizing.

As mentioned, the spice of this sauce variant is on the lower side. Salt and the overall seasoning is quite balanced. The onions have been caramelized to perfection, neither burnt nor raw. They add a subtle sweetness that ties all flavors together. 

Price & Packaging

A 210-gram pack is priced at Rs 70/- and has a shelf life of 18 months. 

Main Ingredients

Water, onion, garlic, sunflower oil, edible common salt, red chilli paste (water, dry red chilli), sugar, onion powder, vinegar, ginger, edible corn starch, garlic powder, hydrolyzed veg protein (soy), soy sauce powder, mixed spices (pepper, chilli, ginger), tomato puree, acidity regulator (E296, E260, E330) and thickening agent (E415)

Contains added flavours-natural and nature-identical flavour substances.  

Taste & Texture

This variant had a chunky appearance. In terms of aroma, it came quite close to its homemade counterpart. It has some additives but the aroma was quite fresh.

Similar to the aroma, the flavors felt natural too. Garlic was one of the most prominent ingredients and the bits added a nice bite. This saute sauce featured desirable flavors and was well-seasoned. That said, the spiciness was too low considering it had three chillies on the spice index. 

Here are some interesting FAQs on Daawat Rice Saute Sauce.

Convenience shook hands with flavors and we got Daawat Rice Saute Sauces. These feature pretty great flavors and the texture was commendable. As much as we relished the Masala and Manchurian variants, Schezwan lacked the spice kick it is renowned for. 

From scratch or ready-to-use, how do you like your sauces?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.