Food based products are to be avoided if you’re paleo/keto. The argument goes that we were not made to consume the myriad chemicals, additives and preservatives that are in so many “foods” today. That means that I eat real foods: meat, vegetables, good fats, nuts, hard cheeses and the odd piece of dark chocolate.
Products that come out of a jar or tin tend to be a no-no. There are exceptions, however. I’ve found some good organic mayonnaise at Sainsbury’s, as well as good condiments such as Dijon mustard and organic ketchup (which I eat in tiny amounts).
Now, I love curry, and I do make my own from time-to-time. Before paleo, it used to be that for a quick meal I would flash fry some chopped chicken breast and then throw in a jar of ready-made curry sauce. The problem is that they tend to be full of bad things: rapeseed oil, sugar, fructose, etc.
Imagine my surprise about a year ago when I stumbled upon Meridian Tikka Masala Sauce in the “Free From” aisle at Sainsbury’s.
Could it be that there was a curry sauce for me? There sure was. Look at these ingredients:
Water, Coconut Cream (8%) (Coconut Extract, Water), Tomato Paste (6%), Sunflower Oil, Organic Agave Syrup, Coriander Leaf (2%), Dried Onion, Almond Butter (2%), Modified Maize Starch, Garlic Puree, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Salt, Ground Cumin, Ground Coriander, Ground Ginger, Colour: Paprika Extract, Curry Flavouring, Chilli Powder.
The only three that could be problematic are the sunflower oil, the maize starch and the agave syrup. Yet, sunflower oil is not the worst thing in the world especially in low quantities. Also there can’t be that much agave since carbs per 100 grams is a tolerable 7.5 grams. Ditto the maize starch.
I find this a delicious sauce that works well with chicken, beef and lamb. They don’t sell it at my Sainsbury’s anymore, but I just buy direct now in bulk. At the moment, it’s only available in the UK.
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