The other day I wrote about popping my cherry with home meal delivery service, HelloFresh. I had received a pack of three meals (for two persons), a salmon meal, which I reviewed, chicken with orange glob, and peppercorn steak. I made the chicken but won’t bother to review it, despite following the recipe to the ‘t’, the orange flavor wasn’t really present, and the chicken was kind of rubbery. I didn’t spend enough time with the packaging, but it sure had the texture of being one of those “may contain a solution…” products. Those proteins are beyond my palate. The raw fennel/lettuce/orange salad (with white wine vinegar and EVOO) was good, but I have made that many times in the past.
The peppercorn steak? A piece of beef, a sauce made from shallots, stock, water, pepper and sour cream, roasted potatoes, and creamed spinach, also with sour cream. Spinach was great, sauce was easy, but I personally think a whole shallot in less than a half cup of sauce is going to be a rather strong flavor hit for most people.
Potatoes are fine, but oven roasted potatoes are something else I frequently make at home. I added some diced garlic prior to baking, as that’s the way I like them.
The recipe called for pan frying the steak for four minutes a side, which I did, and produced a steak in the rare category. This is a very lean piece of meat, and those who insist that beef flavor comes from fat may be disappointed. I was disappointed that there were a couple of streaks of gristle.
The steak is a step up from say, Omaha Steaks or Schwans, and a step down from your local (the real kind, not the grocery one) butcher. Overall, it is a pretty well-balanced meal, and my favorite of the three I received.
I won’t be joining their plan, at about $11.50 a plate, I think I can do better at the grocery, and since with these “kits” one has to prepare and cook the ingredients, there is really no benefit for me.
Also? I think it would be better if the recipe cards were larger, with each step illustrated by photos, and a larger font. That’s all.
Beef before cooking
Sauteed Spinach with Sour Cream
Plated Meal
Hello Fresh Review
Hello Fresh Review