This week's edition of Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival is up on
Strauss-Achlah has devolved a new line of Grill Roasted Salads.
There are 4 new salads to choose from; Grilled Eggplant with Techina, Grilled Pepper Strips, Spicy Grilled Tomato & Pepper Salad and finally Grilled Tomato & Pepper Matbucha.
In 2009 Achlah decided to improve their commercial salads by committing to use better quality produce and gear toward a more natural, healthy line of salads. They switched to using healthier canola oil and less of it, as well as decreasing the amount of artificial ingredients in their salads, across the board. These new Grill Roasted Salads continue this new found commitment, but do have some preservatives and artificial ingredients added.
I tasted the Grilled Roasted Pepper Strips salad.
After seeing the commercial on TV I was expecting big thick strips of (slightly crisp) roasted peppers. I was somewhat disappointed to find a combination of small thin strips and cut up peppers mixed with a generous amount of thinly sliced garlic.
The 3 colored peppers (yellow, red and orange) did not have the slight crunch I was expecting yet they were not completely mushy either.
The salad was mild, not spicy, yet the grilling and the garlic did add flavor. I didn’t find the garlic to be to dominating, but my friend who does not particularly care for garlic thought it was overwhelming and she did not enjoy the salad because of it.
The Grill Roasted Pepper Strip Salad is definitely not a homemade salad and not even something you would expect to find in restaurant or at a deli take-out counter, yet I thought it had less of a commercial taste than many pre-packaged salads found in the supermarket refrigerator.
I do think this is a natural next step for Achlah salads and it seems to suit the Israeli cuisine. I think the Grill Roasted Pepper Strips, for example, can work well in a pita with chummas and kabobs. I could see these grill roasted salads selling just as well as many other Achala salads do.
Bottom Line: For a commercial salad, I think Achlah did fairly well. I just wish the ad ,they have running on TV, and the picture on the container ,would be more accurate as to what I can expect to find when I open the lid.
Grilled Eggplant with Techina 250 grams - 9.49 NIS
Grilled Pepper Strips 400 grams - 14.99 - 17.90 NIS
Spicy Grilled Tomato & Pepper Salad 400 grams - 14.99-17.90 NIS
Grilled Tomato & Pepper Matbucha 400 grams - 14.99-17.90 NIS
Kosher: Parave Mehadrin
Disclaimer: All items were purchased by me. No one is paying me for this review. All opinions are my own.
I've never been a big fan of Achla salads but I LOVE Rafi Cohen's grilled zucchini salad. It probably has about a million calories but it's so good that I don't dare check LOL.
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"It probably has about a million calories but it's so good that I don't dare check LOL"
ReplyDeleteSmart move, just enjoy it with no guilt - I haven't tried that salad but now I will:)
thanks
I also prefer all of the Rafi Cohen salads- his grilled peppers are much bigger.
ReplyDeleteAlso wanted to point out that it's unlikely you'll get a slight crisp in any commercial grilled salad because after sitting in oil for awhile, the crisp kind of goes away.
I agree, the commercials do make them look so crispy and appetizing! Good production value there.
ReplyDeleteIt's very simple to make your own roasted peppers. Just cut off the tops, stick them face down on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and roast in a hot oven for about 20-30 minutes, minutes. If you stick them in a paper bag after for 10 minutes, they're very easy to peel, if you like that (I prefer not peeling).
Rafi Cohen also just came out with really nice spreads. Their arissa is hot but not insanely hot and is great on chumus or techina.
"it's unlikely you'll get a slight crisp in any commercial grilled salad because after sitting in oil for awhile, the crisp kind of goes away."
ReplyDeleteyes you have a good point Abbi, That's why I wish they would have actually used the real salad in the commercial and not give the false impression your getting something crisp when your not.
I tasted Rafi Cohen's Grilled Eggplant and Techina- and I really liked it! I have to try the others in the line. Seems like as a whole they are better than Achlah salads.