Sainsburys Deliciously Freefrom Coconut Vanilla Iced Dessert

Dairy free is all the rage nowadays and whilst I am not dairy intolerant and still love my milk and yogurts, I am very much into my almond and coconut alternatives as well. Dairy free milks and yogurts are pretty mainstream and easy enough to find now and it seems ice cream is the next area that’s set to boom. Sainsburys did a big freefrom push earlier this year with loads of new own label options across every sector from pasta sauces to bread and cakes to cereals. One thing that grabbed a lot of attention was there new freefrom ice creams made of coconut and available in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate versions.

This ice cream is made from - Water, Coconut Milk (30%) (Water, Coconut Extract), Sugar, Inulin, Dextrose, Coconut Oil (4%), Vanilla Extract, Thickener: Carob Gum, Cellulose; Colour: Beta-carotene  - so suitable for vegans and those avoiding dairy. It's also gluten free and wheat free.

Because of the coconut milk base this is actually really quite high in saturated fat. And whilst health bloggers claim it’s good for you, I’m still not convinced and think too much sat fat is bad and that the best fats are those in things like nuts, avocado and seeds which are monosaturated. It’s also just as sugary as normal ice cream at 22% - for context that’s the same as salted caramel haagen daaz and not much further behind than Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough at 25% .

What I was impressed with was just how scoopable this was after leaving out for a few minutes. Nice and soft, it felt creamy and looks quite attractive with a simple yellow colour (albeit one derived from added colour beta-carotene).  

This translates into a nice creamy, thick texture – it certainly didn’t feel like a sorbet and isn’t icy, watery or thin tasting. It’s not quite ice cream as it’s maybe a little oily and maybe a bit more girtty but this is really minor and for all extents and purposes it’s pretty indulgent in mouthfeel.

The flavour is okay…. To be honest coconut is the main taste you get and I would describe it as a coconut with hints of vanilla taste rather than a vanilla taste that just so happens to be made of coconut. It’s sweet and pleasant tasting but it’s not overly exciting. Considering the sugar and sat fat is comparable to normal ice cream, I think I’d rather just have a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s instead as this isn’t exactly a clean and pure product either. Vegans and those who can’t eat lactose will love this but it’s just as unhealthy as regular ice cream and the taste although nice just isn’t enough to make me choose this instead of my favourite brands.

Price: £3.00

Bought at: Sainsburys

Nutrition per serving: 193 calories, 8.4g fat, 7.5g sat fat, 20.7g sugars, 0.03g salt

Score: 7/10

Sainsbury's Coloured Dim Sum with Ginger Soy Sauce

This was a really cool and eye catching product I found in Sainsbury's recently. Dim sum is a big trend on the dining out and restaurant scene but this is the first foray into it from a supermarket I've seen. Packaging and product wise, I thought it was visually stunning and it really did leap off the shelf. The dim sum are brightly coloured and so ornate and the box is very sleek and modern too.

With prawn beetroot shumai (the flower shaped dim sum), the prawn turmeric huaco (the yellow shell) and the oriential vegetable chive gyoza (the long green piece), it's a really interesting mix. It certainly looks impressive, almost like a beautiful box of treasure. All the pieces were really delicate, exquisitely shaped and so elegant.

These only needed a couple of minutes in the microwave and, actually considering they were cooked in this manner, came out really well. The pieces were warm and inviting and smelt so aromatic and tempting. As dim sum, they're supposed to have a steamed texture rather than crispy and this met that criteria very well. Very soft, plump and bursting with filling yet they hold their shape and don't fall apart when you pick them up or even when bitten in half. Often party food or small pieces like this can make a mess but these stay perfectly intact.

I absolutely loved each of the three varities. The shumai was slightly sweet and tasted very fresh and the gyoza felt very meaty and substantial for a vegetable dim sum and had a great mix of textures and tastes with a deliciously savoury flavour. The star of the show for me was the prawn turmeric huaco. With a slight sweet and hot edge, it really sets off every taste bud and gets you take to notice.

The ginger soy dip complemented all of the pieces beautifully and, again, added to the visually impressive look of the product. It wasn't overly salty but had real depth of flavour that balanced with the dim sum.

These could probably be used for starters, sharing or snacking but I actually ate the entire tray on my own for a lunch. At around 30 calories a piece, the whole packet was only about 300 calories so certainly not too calorific. And yet I felt satisfied due to the complex taste and the fact I feel I had quite a bit to choose from.

I was very impressed by this selection. It's light and delicious and very different to a lot of other ready meal type offerings.

Price: £3
Available: Sainsburys

Pros: Light, flavoursome, interesting, visually impressive, well balanced and a good mix
Cons: Probably not very economical for feeding lots of people

Score: 8.5/10

Sainsbury's Chapati

I quite often have a chapati instead of a naan as a side to Indian meals. They're a lot lighter, less bready and not as filling. Admittedly, I would probably prefer a naan in most cases but if you want a lighter curry experience, they're a good choice. So it was nice to see Sainsbury's now do their own version in the fresh ready meals chiller sections.

You get two in a packet, which seems right to me. I don't want the masses of naans or breads you get in other supermarkets or particularly the ones you find in the ambient aisles. I just wanted a little something extra to go with a homemade curry I was making that wasn't as calorie heavy as a naan since I was going to have rice with it as well.

Visually, they look very good. Very thin and flat with a lovely colour and lots of grooves, air pockets and texture for an authentic feel. They're super quick to cook - you can either heat in the oven for 2-3 minutes or dry fry them in a pan for a minute each side, which is what I did.

And either I was very lucky or the cooking instructions are spot on because this really did cook to absolute perfection. It had a lovely crisp texture that when you tore a bit off sent lots of lovely little shards and crispy bits scattering over the plate - just like when I have one at an Indian restaurant. It definitely mimicked the unleavened flatbread well.

That's not to say it's dry or crunchy - it is still a soft, doughy bread at heart for mopping up sauce but due to its thiness it has a little crispiness and interesting flavour from all the air pockets.

If I'm honest it did taste a bit like naan rather than the more dense texture of a chapati from my local but it was lovely nonetheless and a lot tastier than most other supermarket naans. It may not be fully authentic but it's a good choice for a homemade curry. And then when I eat out I will go back to a proper, high calorie naan!

Price: 80p but currently 25% off at 60p
Available: Sainsbury's

Pros: Good value for a little extra, less calories than naan, visually appealing, cooks well, lovely taste, texture and feel
Cons: Not as good as an authentic Indian restaurant version (but then again supermarket stuff never is)

Score: 8/10

Mini High Bake Water Biscuits by Sainsbury's

It sounds a bit strange to get so excited and be so positive abut product that is actually so plain but I really rated these new mini water biscuits from Sainsbury's.

Essentially, they are literally nothing more than six bags of very plain crackers but everything about the execution of these delivers and exceeds what other crackers are doing.

Firstly, I like through fact they're six individually wrapped bags rather than one big bag. Usually, I open crackers and don't get through them that quickly so they start to go off. These individual bags mean I can just open each bag as and when I need it, so there is no waste and I don't feel pressurised to eat more than I want. These mini bags also means they're easy to transport so really convenient for taking out and about. The bags are well protected with air and none of the crackers were broken in any way in the bag I ate.

Opening my bag, I was really surprised by how many crackers it contained. Often with mini or portion controlled packs, you only get six or seven little bites but there were plenty of crackers in these. I suppose they are very flat but even so it's still a very generous portion and makes for a very satisfying snack.

These are also perfect for a light snack as, even with all those biscuits, the bag is only 81 calories. The ingredients list is very simple: flour, oil and very little sugar and salt - so as snacking goes these are pretty healthy.

Yes, they're pretty plain but I still found them an enjoyable eat. The biscuits are firm, crisp, with a nice snap and crunch. I didn't find them dry either and they would also be great for dunking into houmous or dips as well. They're well seasoned and very moreish. With such a low calorie content, these make a great alternative to crisps. You get the crunch, the bag and a savoury hit and with no guilt.

Granted, these aren't the most exciting thing ever and I would never call them a treat but they'll definitely be something I buy regularly as they make a simple, healthy snack and are great value in relation to other healthier snacks.

Price: £1.20
Available: Sainsbury's

Pros: Simple, natural and wholesome. Fills a savoury snack craving. Satisfying. Portion control and great for on the go.
Cons: I suppose they're not full of flavour compared to other snacks

Score: 8/10

Sainsbury's My Goodness! Greek Style Yogurt on Strawberry Compote

Sainsbury's earlier this year released a range of new healthy ready meals called My Goodness but this is the first time I've ever seen the brand used on something else. This yogurt caught my eye for a number of reasons. Firstly, it promised an usual flavour, described as "velvety Madagascan vanilla yogurt layered onto strawberry compote with a hint of rose". Secondly, it's a really generous large 240g pot positioned as a yogurt for breakfast and thirdly for its health credentials.

As part of the My Goodness range, this yogurt contains one of your five a day with a whopping 36% of the product coming from strawberries. It's also actually a very low sugar yogurt. It's only sweetened with agave syrup and sweetner rather than sugar so only contains 6.1g sugar per 100g or 14.6g for the whole pot. Most yogurt contain 14g+ per 100g so this is a much better choice if you're looking for more natural products.

The pot looked really inviting and despite getting shaken around quite considerably on the journey home kept its distinctive and attractive layers with a smooth creamy Greek yogurt top and rich red compote underneath.

Opening it up, the Madagascan vanilla scent delicately arose and you can see lovely little specks of it flecked throughiut the pure white yogurt. The yogurt was luxuriously thick and by itself had a deliciously creamy taste that melted in the mouth. The use of real vanilla was obvious in the taste: the yogurt was not in the least bit sickly or artificial.

The compote underneath was also very simple and natural. Mostly made up of strawberries, it had a nice thick and almost jelly like cosistency with lots of lovely chunks. The strawberry compote was sumptuously tangy and the rose flavouring was very subtle. Whilst I was intrigued by the rose element, I didn't want something that tasted floral or like Turkish delight and this added extra has been handled very well.

The rose flavouring is so subtle that you can't detect it as such but you're aware that it is there as there is a slight richness and sourness behind the strawberry's sweetness but it is very, very understated indeed.

I was really impressed by this pot. I had it only with some blueberries for breakfast and that was substantial enough and the entire pot was only 132 calories. Considering most low calorie yogurt are very small and unfilling, this really hit the spot due to the thickness of the Greek yoghurt. Whilst I wouldn't buy this regularly at full price, at the £1 promo price I paid I was more than happy. A natural, tasty, filling breakfast with good health credentials - it's hard to argue with that.

Price: £1 promo price (otherwise £1.69)
Available: Sainsburys Local

Pros: Unusual and interesting flavour combo. Filling. Lower sugar than other yogurt. Very generous serving size. A whole portion of strawberries in each pot
Cons: Expensive to have every day

Score: 8/10