Amy’s International Meals

China

Amy’s Chinese Noodles and Vegetables

Chinese food is at the top of the list of ethnic foods loved by Americans. It’s not surprising given the flavorful and fragrant characteristics. I enjoyed the rice noodles and healthy veggies in this meal: mushroom, carrots, broccoli, edamame, green beans, and onions. However, the cashew sauce is sour. It is gluten free, vegan, plant based, dairy free and corn free, but contains soy and tree nuts.

Mexico

Mexican food is also one of the most popular foods in the world. Luckily, there are many naturally gluten free options such as corn tortillas and tamales, and rice and beans. Although most of the foods contain cheese, Amy’s instead focuses on the cuisine’s savory flavors and spices.

Amy’s Black Bean Tamale Verde

This is one of Amy’s best meals. Amy’s Tamale Verde (green sauce) is a delicious meal. The corn tamale is filled with black beans, vegetables and chiles. Whereas salsa roja (red sauce) is made with tomatoes, salsa verde is made with tomatillos which are known as a green Mexican husk tomato. The sauce compliments the tamale and the mild rice rounds out the delicious dish. It is so good, I forgot that the traditional meal is usually topped with cheese. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, soy free, tree nut free, vegan and plant based.

Amy’s Enchilada with Spanish Rice and Beans

This dish surprisingly is not as flavorful as the tamale verde. The Spanish rice, pinto beans and black bean enchilada are very bland. I first thought the meal was low sodium, but it contains 820 mg of sodium. To spice it up, I recommend adding vegan cheese and vegan sour cream to add much needed flavor. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, tree nut free, vegan and plant based, but does contain soy.

Amy’s Bean and Rice Burrito

This is one of Amy’s best tasting wraps. Pinto beans and brown rice are mixed with mild sauce and wrapped in a gluten free tortilla. I did not miss the cheese and meat found in traditional burritos. It is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, tree nut free, corn free, vegan, kosher, and plant based.

Tip: The wrap sticks to the plate when microwaving, so you can add a little oil or vegetable spray to the plate.

Italy

Amy’s Lasagna

If you remember the cartoon Garfield, you know much he loved lasagna. Amy’s package seconds Garfield’s love of this popular meal by stating “We all love lasagna, there is something about the combination of pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese that spells “comfort,” and depriving our gluten-intolerant and vegan customers of this comfort food just didn’t seem right.”

Amy’s lasagna contains spinach, zucchini, and vegan mozzarella-style cheese. It has the look, texture and taste of lasagna. The noodles are tender, but the vine-ripened tomato sauce is a bit tart. The lasagna is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, vegan, tree nut free, plant based, but does contain soy.

Amy’s Baked Ziti with Cheeze

Amy’s does not disappoint with their Baked Ziti bowl. It contains rice pasta, vegan mozzarella-style cheese and vegetables. I was a little surprised to find peas at the bottom of the bowl and while it seems weird, it blends well with the other ingredients. The vegan cheese looks and tastes like regular cheese and the sauce adds a nice topping to the pasta. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, vegan, kosher, and plant based, but does contain soy and tree nuts.

Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza, No Cheese

This is my favorite gluten free pizza. It is a personal 8″ pizza with no cheese added, not even vegan. The crunchy rice flour crust is topped with organic shiitake mushrooms, roasted red peppers, sweet onions and artichoke hearts. The vegetables are marinated with balsamic vinegar for a slightly sweet, savory taste. While it tastes good on its own, you can add vegan cheese for a real pizza flavor. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, soy free, vegan, tree nut free and plant based.

Thailand

Amy’s Thai Vegetable and Rice Bowl

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines and it’s not surprising given it’s been called the perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter. Thankfully, many of the foods are naturally gluten and dairy free since rice noodles and coconut milk are used in place of wheat noodles and milk.

The bowl contains vegetables, rice, and almonds, blended in a coconut cashew and tofu marinade. The sweet potatoes go well with the jasmine rice and coconut milk. It is a rich, savory meal. It is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, kosher, and plant based, but does contain soy and tree nuts.

Amy’s Thai Red Curry

Amy’s Thai Red Curry is a flavorful meal with aromatic jasmine rice, and a delicious curry sauce made with coconut milk (a major difference between Thai and Indian curry dishes). There are a lot of vegetables including tofu, broccoli and butternut squash. The side of jasmine rice is enough without being stingy and the sauce has a mildly spicy taste that is not overpowering. It is gluten free, vegan, plant based, and dairy free, but does contain soy and tree nuts (coconuts).

Amy’s Thai Green Curry

The difference between green and red curry is red curry uses red chilies as a base for its paste, whereas green curry uses green chilies and is spicier. The green curry has chunks of sweet potato and jalapeno, but it is not too spicy since jalapeno is listed as a last ingredient. This dish perfectly balances sweetness with spiciness. The aromatic jasmine rice complements the curried vegetables well. It is gluten free, vegan, plant based, and dairy free, but does contain soy and tree nuts (coconuts).

Amy’s Pad Thai

The noodles are made with rice and contains tofu, broccoli, carrots, and green onions. It also contains cashews, instead of the typical peanuts. I was surprised at the vinaigrette taste from the rice vinegar. This does not taste like the Pad Thai served at restaurants, which is not sour. The Pad Thai is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, vegan and plant based, but does contain soy and tree nuts (cashews).

Amy’s Thai Coconut Soup, Tom Kha Phak

Tom Kha Phak is a spicy and sour soup made with coconut milk. The traditional version is made with chicken. This is the vegetarian version and at first taste I thought there was chicken, but it was the tofu and mushrooms, which have the consistency of meat. It contains galangal, which is a root similar to ginger, along with sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans. It’s a mix of tart, sweet and spicy flavors and Amy’s website says it can be poured on rice. It is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and plant based, but does contain soy and tree nuts (coconuts).

India

Amy’s Indian Mattar Tofu

I love Indian food and before giving up gluten and dairy, one of my favorite dishes was Mattar Paneer. It is peas with paneer, which is Indian cottage cheese. Amy’s Indian Mattar Tofu replaces the cheese with tofu. It is served with dal (lentils) and basmati rice, which is pleasantly aromatic. While tofu does not taste like cheese, the consistency is similar and it blends well with the peas and tomato sauce. It is a meal which is flavorful and perfectly spiced. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, tree nut free, vegan, kosher and plant based, but does contain soy.

Amy’s Indian Vegetable Korma

Amy’s Indian Vegetable Korma is as delicious as the Mattar Tofu. It is a dish consisting of vegetables in a thick, creamy sauce. It contains cauliflower, green beans, carrots, sweet green peas and potatoes in a mild curry sauce. The coconut sauce is topped with cashews and slivered almonds for a great crunchy taste. Completing the meal is lentils and aromatic basmati rice. Like the Mattar Tofu, it is an aromatic, well spiced meal that awakens your taste buds. It’s hard to believe this delicious meal comes frozen in a box. It is gluten free, vegan, plant based, dairy free, soy free, and corn free, but does contain tree nuts.

Amy’s Indian Curry Korma Wrap

This wrap is similar to Amy’s Indian Vegetable Korma except that the entrée has dal which is lentil stew. The great flavors of coconut milk curry are blended with basmati rice and vegetables and wrapped in a gluten free tortilla. It is just as aromatic and well spiced as the vegetable korma entrée.  It is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, lactose free, vegan, corn free, kosher, and plant based. It does contain tree nuts (coconut).

Amy’s Indian Aloo Mattar Wrap

Aloo Mattar is an Indian dish made from potatoes and peas in a spiced tomato sauce. Amy’s version is made with potatoes, tofu and chickpeas wrapped in a gluten free tortilla. It has a mild spicy flavor, with jalapeno being listed as one of the last ingredients.

I found the taste bland which is disappointing given how flavorful Amy’s other Mattar dish is, the Indian Mattar Tofu. Contrary to the Mattar Tofu, the wrap did not have the robust tomato sauce flavor. It is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, tree nut free, vegan, kosher, and plant based, but does contain soy.

Vietnam

Amy’s Vietnamese Banh Mi Wrap

Bánh mì is the Vietnamese word for bread. In Vietnamese cuisine, it also refers to a type of sandwich. This wrap is like a sandwich, except the tortilla is substituted for bread. This is a tasty meal of pickled carrots, tofu, pinto beans and brown rice.  The pickled carrots are not sour or vinegary and the tofu and beans made me not miss meat. I feel the need to add that spices like ginger and mustard seed can be pungent which I think people sometimes mistakenly view as a foul odor, but it’s really just a sharp odor. This wrap is gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, tree nut free, vegan, kosher, and plant based, but does contain soy.

Spain

Amy’s Paella

Paella is a Spanish dish of rice, saffron, and seafood, cooked and served in a large shallow pan called a paella. Amy’s Paella is vegan but does contain the traditional Arborio rice.  Unlike white rice, Arborio rice is round and chewy without being mushy. Also, it contains tofu, saffron, paprika and garlic. This dish is so tasty, I don’t even miss the seafood. It is blended with tomato sauce which adds a nice flavor without being tart. It is gluten free, dairy free, corn free, tree nut free, vegan, and plant based, but does contain soy.

Conclusion

Guy Fieri said it best when he said “Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people eat together.” Here’s hoping Amy’s international meals can bring you and your loved ones together at mealtime.

Fun Food Fact

Pizza is the most popular food in the world. Is anyone really surprised?

Did You Know?

Quote

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food give you their heart.” Cesar Chavez