Mishry Rating
SUPERB!
Summary
We loved the Chicken Chettinad by Kitchens Of India for four reasons. Firstly, the well-rounded heat of pepper and the flavor of fresh coconut and curry leaves. Secondly, the tender, juicy chunks of chicken. Thirdly, authentic Chettinad flavors. Last but not the least, a preservative free ingredient list.
The complex heat sourced from red chillies and black pepper, the flavor of coconut and curry leaves in each bite. Chettinad cuisine is best described as an explosion of flavors.
ITC presents a RTE Chicken Chettinad from its Dakshin Cuisine. Our ITC Kitchens of India Chicken Chettinad review is based upon three vital factors – authenticity of flavors, texture and freshness of the meal. How does this ready-to-eat meal perform in our taste test? Read on for details.
Table of Contents
Kitchens Of India Chicken Chettinad – Quick Glance
A quick look at all the details of this RTE meal by ITC Kitchens of India –
| ITC Chicken Chettinad | Product Information |
| Price | Rs 230/- |
| Net weight | 285 grams |
| Shelf life | 18 months |
| Mishry Rating | 4 |
Our Review Factors
What were we looking for? RTE meals are notoriously popular for their industrial flavors and rubbery texture. We were looking for a fresh-tasting, delicious, well-balanced Chettinad style chicken dish.
To test the Kitchens of India Chicken Chettinad, we set the following parameters –
1. Flavor and Aroma
Guntur chillies, kalpasi (stone flower) and Indian shallots along with black pepper, coconut and curry leaves are the ingredients that come to mind when you think of Chettinad Curry. Taste and aroma, together govern how flavorful this dish ends up being.
From the pepper-chilli heat, to the sweet tasting coconut meat and flavor of chicken – how tasty is this dish? How appetizing does this smell?
2. Texture
Tender chicken chunks, slightly grainy masala with the coarseness of coconut and bits of curry leaves and peppercorns. We were looking for well-coated pieces of chicken in a latpata masala (semi-dry gravy that coats the chicken).
Taste and texture, collectively, define freshness and quality as well.
3. Other Parameters
Appearance
Oily, dry or just right? How appealing is the appearance?
Main ingredients
Does it have ingredients that define Chettinad cuisine? Clean list of ingredients or lots of additives and preservatives?
Price
For Rs 230, does this prove to be value for money?
Packaging
How well are these packed? Any leakages?
Shelf Life
Once opened, how long can you consume it for? If unopened what is the shelf life of this product?
Related Reading – ITC frozen foods we have reviewed
Kitchens Of India Chicken Chettinad – Detailed Review
Price and packaging
A 285 gm pack is priced at Rs 230/-. It comes in a yellow outer pack with
Ingredients
The main ingredients include chicken (33.6%), Spices and condiments (22.9%), Water, Tomatoes, Fresh coconuts, Refined sunflower oil, Iodized salt, Refined coconut oil, Cashew nuts, Lemon juice.
Under spices and condiments this contains onion, garlic, ginger, black pepper, coriander, poppy seeds, green coriander leaves, curry leaves, fennel, turmeric, chilli, cumin, mace, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg.
This has no preservatives, colors or additives. We like the use of good quality cooking oils like sunflower and coconut.
Method of heating
The brand specifies three methods of heating the meal – on a gas top, in a microwave and hot water immersion. We used the first method.
In a pan we heated emptied the contents of the pack and heated it for 5 minutes while stirring.
Appearance
No extra oil is floating on top. The masala looks coarse, semi-dry and coats the boneless pieces of chicken very nicely.
Taste test
The aroma, while we were heating this, was primarily of khada masalas.
The texture of chicken is commendable, considering this is a ready to eat meal. These bite-sized chunks of chicken taste and feel fresh. They aren’t rubbery, hard or chewy. We like how well the chicken has absorbed all the flavors. The masala is semi-dry, coarse and coats all the chicken pieces well.
This has medium to high spiciness, like how Chettinad curries are supposed to be. The heat is not unidimensional, it’s coming from black pepper and all the whole spices added in the masala.
The curry leaves look and taste fresh as well. The coconut flesh along with a mix of spices seems well-roasted and helps this dish inch closer to the authentic Chettinad flavors. Apt salt levels, the natural sweetness of onions combined with ginger and garlic is superb.
No industrial/artificial taste or aroma. It was as good as eating a bowl of homemade chicken curry with Southern flavors.
Pros
- We loved the tender, juicy pieces of chicken.
- The flavor of pepper and coconut is spot on.
- This meal has an apt level of heat and salt.
- Fresh flavors and delicious balance of spices.
- True to the ‘Chettinad’ promise.
- No preservatives.
- Convenient to use and carry.
- The chicken and masala ratio is perfect.
Best Suited For
For those who like Chettinad flavors and don’t have access to it close by can definitely relish those flavors through this ready-to-eat meal by ITC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Kitchens of India Chicken Chettinad.
1. How can we heat this Chicken Chettinad?
The pack mentions three methods to heat this –
- On a gas top
- In a microwave
- Hot water immersion
2. Is this Chicken Chettinad too spicy?
No. The chicken Chettinad by ITC Kitchens of India is not extremely spicy. This has a wonderful balance of flavors.
3. How many can one pack of Chicken Chettinad serve?
This pack is sufficient for 2 people with a medium appetite.
4. Does this meal contain preservatives?
No. This has no preservatives. ITC’s ready to eat meals are treated at a high temperature under extreme pressure to preserve food without using any preservatives.
5. Can this Chicken Chettinad be stored in the refrigerator?
No. It is best to consume it immediately, as mentioned by the brand.
Final Verdict
WOW! We fell in love with the fresh, clean flavors of this ready-to-eat chicken Chettinad by ITC. The balance of spices, flavor of coconut and tender pieces of chicken make this all worth a try.
You can eat it with appams, Malabar parottas, and rice.
Do you enjoy Chettinad cuisine? Tell us about your favorite dish in the comment section below.
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.