Gusto boxes

[IdesMarchof]

Just started the gusto boxes. Would anyone like to swap recipe choices? / hints?

I’m cooking the prawn farfalle today - about to serve it for lunch but baffled the online recipe and physical recipe card don’t match. One says rocket one says pea shoots - I assume that’s a sub but weird that it’s the physical version that’s correct!

Has anyone else made this one? Or have any tips on choosing gusto meals?

We stopped ordering from Gousto recently after about 6 months - same reasons as previous poster (too many delivery /supply errors). We are now trying MindfulChef. Verdict so far: ingredients are much better quality but the recipes haven't wowed us yet. We'll persevere for another couple of months. May decide to start to buy our own ingredients and use Gousto recipes.

@Hazelmazel that sounds like an annoying experience- so far our chicken breasts have been good but I wouldn’t be happy with minute ones

@cortex10 my dp was suggesting this eg we usually use organic carrots so ours are nicer

We’ve recently rejoined gousto, to take a break from HelloFresh. HelloFresh had us as the portions were far more generous and we could easily feed three of us on a two person plan whereas previously with gousto we’d have to bulk it out to stretch.
We’ve had two boxes now and the little sealed baggies for the loose items are really bugging us due to the fact they’re not recyclable and we’ve grown to enjoy the paper bags from Hello Fresh which has most of the ingredients for each meal separately packed except meat/meat replacement, dairy and potatoes(sometimes).

The extra special meals like the Chinese New Year banquet was well worth the extra £1 (we went for the veggie option as no one likes pork here).

We made the pasta and pesto this week which was supposed to be a valentines meal and it reminded me how much I prefer homemade pesto.

@cortex10

We stopped ordering from Gousto recently after about 6 months - same reasons as previous poster (too many delivery /supply errors). We are now trying MindfulChef. Verdict so far: ingredients are much better quality but the recipes haven't wowed us yet. We'll persevere for another couple of months. May decide to start to buy our own ingredients and use Gousto recipes.

Outside of lockdown this is what we do. We keep half an eye on both HelloFresh and Gousto to see if there are any recipes that we specifically want to try otherwise the binders full of recipes is dipped into and we make a plan using them. It also means DS will get involved in the cooking.

We have been ordering a box fortnightly, for 4 people. We are a family of 4, but the children are young so DH and I end up with big portions! Someone said upthread that it saves them headspace, and this is exactly it for me. I discovered it is not the cooking I had a problem with, it was trying to plan it, and worrying that I wasn't giving the DCs much variety in their food. They are now so much better at trying new foods. They don't like everything we have, but then nor do I, but they will give most things a go now. I make a note on the recipe cards to remind me which ones we like. Loved the veggie burritos a few weeks ago, also big fans of their veggie burgers here too! As we don't really eat meat I think I could buy from a supermarket for cheaper, but I really don't mind that because it brings so many other benefits!

Thoughts after two boxes from me and dp

Good

Some really good meals eg the Turkish one pot bulghar pilaf and the Goan fish curry

We’ve had way more varied food

Kids have loved the cottage pie and were willing to try the chicken curry. I think another time they would eat the curry for dinner. We’ve mostly done Gousto as adult meals not family meals so far, but will try to get kids on board this week

Learned some new cooking techniques eg stir frying kale, garlic and ginger together for some amazing Thai ginger greens

So nice not to have to measure everything out or shop for it

Bad

One messed up box

One or two duff dishes

Things we are questioning

Dp asked about the meat standards last night - we always buy meat with animal welfare in mind when we supermarket shop (eg not battery chicken etc) but not clear where Gousto is on this

The amount of packaging

Salt content - looked at a few recipes and might be consistently a bit high?

Prep time - I think this is not always accurate. Eg one dish took me one hour twenty but it said 45 minutes. I think they may not count the chopping!

I wondered that too about the meat quality @IdesMarchof

I normally buy organic where possible but not sure what Gousto’s stance is on this.

I like buying the boxes as long as an offer lasts, then using the recipe cards to buy my own ingredients until I get bored of those meals and shopping, then it’s back to boxes with new recipes!

@nomorecrumbs from reading on the Gousto site looks like the chicken isn’t at our usual welfare standard:

“ At least two metres of usable perch space, and two pecking substrates, per 1,000 birds”

www.gousto.co.uk/blog/our-commitment-to-animal-welfare

I guess they figure free range chicken would bring up the price point too high

What's everyone having this week?

Just sorted mine out!

I’m having pasta bake, sausages and mash, prawn and salmon risotto and the aubergine parmigiana.

What are you having @StocksAndScares?

We have veggie chilli last night - surprisingly spicy and I didn’t add the pickled chilli slices to mine!

This week we have: plant based chicken dopiaza, vedgeree, tomato and goats cheese gnocchi, mixed pepper and chive risotto. I think I went for quick meals this week as we’re both back to work after half term.

I'm having the feta and tomato tart and veggie dopiaza.

Hubby has ordered the salmon pasta for his lunches (I don't eat fish)

Tomato and goats cheese gnocchi was a thumbs up even though two things were missing (luckily we had replacements in the cupboard) so got £3 credit via the app.

@StocksAndScares

What's everyone having this week?

We have had BBQ chicken fajitas tonight. DP cooked, they went down well. Added chopped side salad though - we like some greens with fajitas!

Aubergine Parmigiana, Tomato & Goat's Cheese Gnocchi & Thai Crispy Fish with Tamarind Sauce to go....

Then we are trying Hello Fresh for a few weeks but not too inspired with the menus so far, and anything I like the look of seems to incur extra costs...

I priced up Mindful Chef last week and it was extortionate!

Green beans for our crispy fish meal appear to have been substituted with tenderstem broccoli so I was given £2 credit. Kids prefer broccoli anyway so no big deal...

I paused my boxes for a couple of weeks to save money but am already fed up with what I've been cooking this week lol. Am tempted to try the Morrisons box someone mentioned on here. If I do, I'll post a review.

Plant based dopiaza was delicious! The vedgeree last night was pretty good too.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits we just had the dopiaza I was very pleased and would cook it again. I didn't see the vedgeree, I feel I'm missing out! Do they show different recipes to different people?!

@GingerAndTheBiscuits we just had the dopiaza I was very pleased and would cook it again. I didn't see the vedgeree, I feel I'm missing out! Do they show different recipes to different people?!

@tasmaniandevilchaser on the “chosen for you page” we get all veggie and vegan options but if you scroll right you should be able to see a full list of vegetarian options. I order a couple of weeks in advance though so maybe it had sold out?

Hello! I’ve had seeded chicken potato salad, cheesy pepperoni pasta bake, ciabatta chicken sandwich and tomorrow steak Thai red curry something

The veggie dopiaza was a big hit in our house tonight. It was quite got though.

We had the sausages and mash tonight. Was lovely and kids ate it which was good and even tried the green beans.

Having said that though neither of the dds were that convinced by the onion gravy - Dp and I liked it though