Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

There are some foods out there that don't seem like they'd have any connection to wheat or gluten, but Americanized Chinese food is not one of those foods. Whether you're eating at a restaurant that offers Thai food, Chinese food or any sort of food connected to something Asian, there is likely going to be wheat in absolutely every dish. Seriously. 

Every single dish. 

And why? Because every dish has soy sauce and soy sauce always has wheat. There are certainly methods for making soy sauce which don't use wheat, but there are exactly zero Chinese restaurants out there who don't pray to the flour gods every time they whip up a batch of soy sauce. 

This author has been to just about every Chinese (and Thai) themed restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area (okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating) and too often I've been stuck in a corner eating plain white rice or boring plain old noodles because absolutely every dish on the menu has wheat in it. 

Can you tell this is a sore subject for me?

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And the process of finding gluten-free entrees for my favorite Chinese foods that don't otherwise taste like a freezer-burned Lean Cuisine has been quite a trial. There aren't exactly a lot of full meals to choose from that are specifically Chinese themed and are also gluten-free. It's likely possible to find gluten-free Chinese food at an authentic Chinese food restaurant, but those places have got some seriously scary entrees on their menus for anyone with a less exotic American palate.

Up for consideration here is a frozen entree called Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken, which comes in a box that's clearly meant to remind one of a small box of left-over Chinese food that you find in the refrigerator the next day and pop into the microwave oven to nuke. And that's really all you have to do with this box. Unwrap the plastic and toss it in the microwave for a few minutes.

And while the box itself doesn't look as though it contains that much food, especially after you open it and realize it's not absolutely full, the amount overall is actually a satisfying amount of food and the caloric figures and other nutritional values are pretty respectable as long as you treat the box as though it was a full meal and not just an appetizer.

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Taste-wise, the entree isn't half bad either and is actually a little surprising as even though it's just a frozen nuke-and-serve, the dish does arrive out of the microwave looking tasty once it's put on a plate. Overall, there are a lot less tasty entrees out there that gluten-free seekers have had to put up with regarding Chinese food.

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken Report Card

The Good Stuff:

Easy to make and a good-sized portion, this is a nice meal for lunch and is probably great to take along to work if you reside in an office all day and have to make use of the company microwave. It probably doesn't need any accompaniment and would likely survive just fine as a stand-alone dish. 

It's not going to knock your socks off and take your breath away, but the taste is good enough to recommend it to anyone who would like a bit of Chinese food.

Improvements to be Made:

This entree could use just a few more pieces of chicken. But just a few. It's not hilariously short on the amount of chicken needed to actually have "chicken" in the name without verging into the territory of false advertising, but it could use just a few more pieces. Perhaps two or three. Overall, not a lot to condemn regarding this gluten-free entree. You get what you expect.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Chili is often a terrific option for people looking to increase their protein intake without simply diving into a slab of beef, but many recipes for chili will include wheat in the mixture and so finding chili that is truly gluten free is usually impossible at most restaurants and means that most chili on store shelves is off-limits as well. 

An option for wheat-free chili that is found in the freezer section of the grocery store is that of Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans, which is not only a gluten-free item, but is also dairy free (until you decide to slather it with shredded cheddar). While likely not sufficient for a full meal, the size of this small entree would likely be enough for a light lunch so long as it was joined by something else such as a bag of gluten-free chips.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Chili is often a food that can either be completely full of vegetables, meat and beans or it can be a soupy mixture where a spoon becomes necessary and this particular type of chili is definitely in the middle somewhere. It's not a completely soupy mixture where there doesn't seem to be any heft to the finished product, but it's not a chunky variety of chili by any means.

But when it comes to gluten free chili options, there aren't very many from which to choose, so the fact that this particular type of chili isn't just watery soup is a good sign. It's also easy to make and anyone with a microwave and a few minutes of time can get a hot bowl of chili with this entree. The calories and other assorted nutrients seem to be accommodating toward most diets as well, so nobody needs to worry about eating one of these little bowls for lunch.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Of course, when the chili emerges from the microwave, it's likely that it would be greatly helped by the addition of some cheese for a bit of flair as the chili itself isn't exactly hearty or entirely flavorful. Perhaps it's the vice of the freezer section, but the recipe utilized by Kettle Cuisine isn't a taste which is all that memorable. For gluten free options of the chili variety, it might be better to consider the Hormel varieties of chili as they have many hearty and tasty varieties that their website confirms as being gluten free.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

This entree is small, but it does taste like chili. And it's gluten free. So those are positives. But there aren't a lot of reasons why this particular gluten-free item would stand out against others of the same type.

What Could be Better:

The overall taste of this chili isn't something that will impress anyone who is a true fan of chili, but it will do the job if someone has a hankering for chili and there don't seem to be any handy cans of Hormel nearby. Covering the finished product with a half pound of cheese seems to do the trick for improving the taste.

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza with BBQ Sauce

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza w/BBQ Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

The frozen food industry is so intent on offering people the pizza they so desire that there is usually an entire aisle dedicated to nothing but frozen pizza and from gourmet pizzas topped with vegetables and types of cheeses that can't be pronounced by anyone who didn't take French in high school to ten thousand types of meat, there is usually a pizza for everyone. 

And this includes people who can't eat gluten or wheat. Although it's worth noting that most gluten free pizzas in the freezer section are a relatively new addition to the selection of gluten free food available on the market.

I have been told that there exists a gluten free pizza from California Pizza Kitchen in the freezer section of the grocery store somewhere, but I have yet to find this delicacy (if you know of any California-local grocery stores where this mystical pizza might be found, do let me know by commenting!). 

And so for my latest foray into frozen pizza, I've had to settle for a Glutino brand of pizza that has promised me chicken and barbecue sauce. After wiping the thin covering of ice and frost from the exterior of the box, the pizza pictured on the front does seem like it would be tasty. But upon first inspection of the box, it would seem that the pizza inside can't be that large as the box itself is quite petite.

Of course, the laughs begin when you actually open the box and see the actual size of this precious sized pygmy pizza.

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza w/BBQ Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

It's just so cute. And tiny. AND ALMOST SEVEN DOLLARS. Seriously. This pizza needs to wash the dishes or something for that price. It's got the diameter of a one dollar bill! There aren't a lot of foods that inspire giggles in me, but discovering this expensive gem certainly got me cackling once I opened the box.

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza w/BBQ Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

But enough about the size of the pizza. Because tasty things can indeed come in small packages, right? If someone is willing to endure the rather immense cost of this tiny frozen disc, perhaps the resulting pizza pie is worth it.

As with most frozen items, I chose to put this in the oven as things just tend to cook more evenly in the oven and when the food is done, I'm not greeted with a frozen center for whatever it is I choose to cook. Sure there are a few things that can go in the microwave, but frozen pizza generally does best in the oven. And so a little over twenty minutes after popping the pizza into the oven (it was kind of cute... my oven is pygmy sized just like this pizza), I was greeted with a nicely cooked and crisp pizza disc.

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza w/BBQ Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Now, the picture on the front of the box would have you believe that on this tiny pizza there would be at least an entire flock's worth of chicken included, but as it was, the fine folks at Glutino felt it best to include just a single piece of chicken per piece (assuming you cut the pizza into quarters). Considering the price, they're a tad stingy with the chicken.

After the huge price, the tiny size and the lack of chicken, what this item really comes down to is taste. And this is a strong point for the pizza as it does taste good. The only problem is that the entire pizza is about the size of a single slice of a regular pizza and it takes some serious willpower not to simply toss back the entire pizza the second it comes out of the oven. It's like a wee appetizer. The calories and fat are decent on it although the fat seems a tad high for the size of it. The sodium is also a fair punch in the gut as well although the protein is a nice healthy bonus.

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza w/BBQ Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Pizza with BBQ Sauce Report Card

The Good Things:

This pizza might be small, but it is very tasty. The rice style crust is done really well and while it might be a tad bit foamy at times (if you put pressure on the crust, it simply feels like foam), this is a small complaint considering the general taste of it is quite good. 

At a basic level, this is just a great tasting pizza. Great job by Glutino for making something that tastes great but is free of gluten.

What Could Be Better:

For all that is holy, the price of this little beast is obscene. It truly is something that defies explanation. Gluten free food is more expensive, but this little pizza takes the cake. Or pie. The pizza is also really small (which makes the price all the more hilarious) and has a fair bit of sodium in it. But if you're willing to overlook the price, it's a good pizza. Worth checking out if you recently got a raise at work or if you're looking to do some spending.

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Burrito Chicken & Cheese

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Burrito Chicken & Cheese
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

One of the great things about Mexican food is that there is a lot to choose from regarding gluten-free food due to how many recipes call for ingredients like corn instead of wheat flour.

But burritos, which are arguably one of the more popular items on menus, are usually off limits because they include gluten-based flour tortillas. And let's face it, a traditional flour tortilla seems to wrap around a bunch of refried beans and cheese a lot easier than a corn tortilla. 

This author has experimented in many attempts to make a burrito using something other than a wheat flour tortilla and most of these experiments have been unmitigated disasters.

And so therefore it has become necessary to troll the aisles of the grocery store to see if there are any companies capable of crafting a good tasting ready-made burrito. One of the only companies who seems to be creating such delicacies is called Glutenfreeda and they have a variety of different burritos that are generally located in the freezer section of the grocery store. 

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Burrito Chicken & Cheese
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

On display here is the Chicken & Cheese variety which offers some nice elements for individuals looking for natural foods. The package states that the burrito has no hydrogenated oils and contains zero grams of trans fat. The burrito is apparently also "hand-rolled," although who knows if this method of burrito creation actually makes it taste better.

As is to be expected with frozen burritos, it's possible to place the burrito in the microwave for a quick zap or put it in the oven for about a half hour to cook slowly. I generally choose the oven if I have the time simply because the overall cooked temperature tends to be a bit more even. Most of the time when one of these little frozen tubes comes out of the microwave, the center is a glacial pod of ice.

One of the most noticeable things about this burrito is that it has a lot of varied ingredients within it and that it's not just chicken and cheese. For anyone looking for a burrito that's mainly chicken and cheese, you might be disappointed.

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Burrito Chicken & Cheese
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

As evidenced to the left, the burrito itself is a tidy size and is likely not to serve as an entire meal for someone unless they're an eleven year old, so if this is something you're bringing to work to toss in the microwave it's best to bring along another item such as some gluten-free tortilla chips. And the small size of the burrito makes its three dollar price tag rather painful.

For people who can eat regular gluten-filled burritos of wheat flour wrapped bliss, they'll probably pay less than a buck. This burrito costs three times that amount. On sale. At least for people in California.

Overall the burrito seemed wanting regarding actual chicken and cheese. It felt much more like the burrito was all refried beans and rice rather than chicken and cheese. Indeed, refried beans, rice and salsa all come before chicken or cheese in the listing of ingredients. If the company wants to suggest that their burrito is chicken and cheese, they need to plump these ingredients up a tad.

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Rice and Beans.... I mean Chicken & Cheese Burrito
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Burrito Chicken & Cheese Report Card

The Good Stuff

The nutritional content of this burrito is terrific as it has zero trans fat and a nice amount of protein at eight grams per burrito. The overall calories are a hair high for an item that's as small as it is, but the healthy factor for this burrito is great. If you're into smaller meals eaten throughout the day instead of a big lunch, this item fits the bill.

The company also suggests that they do as little as possible to process the foods that go through their factory, so it's a great example of a natural product as well. In addition, texture and taste of the flour tortilla (which is made of corn and potato flour) is great as well, even if my burrito happened to get a little crispy along the exterior.

Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Chicken & Cheese Burrito
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

What Can Be Improved

More chicken! More cheese! If people are going to have to pay three bucks for one of these little suckers, there had better be some chicken in there. Otherwise, it's best to label this burrito as "rice and beans." No joke.

For a Better Burrito

It's recommended that the oven be used for preparation here, but it's absolutely vital that the burrito isn't cooked too long or the exterior may tend to get a bit too crispy. The directions suggest forty-five minutes is a good cooking time, but I tossed my burrito in there completely frozen and it came out crispy at a half hour.