Nissen Chow Mein, Kung Pao Flavor.Ease of Preparation: 6/10.
Add water and contents of vegetable packets to the bowl; cover and microwave for six minutes; stir in contents of seasoning packet and "liquid" packet; let stand 1 minute before serving. Like the beef flavor I reviewed earlier, this gets a couple points off for the six-minute microwaving time and the very flimsy bowl that needed the support of a plate underneath it in order to be removed from the microwave after heating.
Vegetable packet: 8/10
Onions, green onions, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, small bits of meat-like TVP, rather nice chunk of dried red chile pepper (hot!). This flavor also came with a small pouch of chopped nuts and a third pouch containing hoisin sauce and a small amount of hot chile oil.
Taste: 7/10
Tasty but not exceptional. The nuts were virtually indetectable in the final product and really added nothing to the flavor, which was predominately hoisin saucy with some mushroom backnotes. The texture was decent thanks to the occasional lumps of TVP.
Spiciness: 7/10
Nice background heat from beginning to end with frequent explosions of FIRE provided by the generous chunks of birdseye pepper. Made my nose run! Won't be hot enough for hard-core chiliheads but it was good enough for me.
Overall rating: 8/10 - Recommended.
Relevant links:
Nissin Home Page
Nissin Chow Mein Kung Pao Chicken Flavor Nutrition Facts (at www.thedailyplate.com)
I don't think that I've ever had these. I may have to look for them. Ramen is my staple for work lunches. I swear by the Lucky Me brand. Especially their citrus flavored pancit canton. I'm so spoiled by the Hong Kong Supermarket.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had a bowl if Nissin in a looooong time.. Fun read :)
ReplyDeleteThis gave me the burning runs. It tasted ok, but when you start sweating and run to the bathroom, things get a little rough around the rim. So to speak.
ReplyDelete