Modern Table Meals - Teriyaki Bean Pasta and Veggie Kit - Review

I purchased the above packet of Modern Table Teriyaki Bean Pasta and Veggie Kit at Target for $3.99 as I liked the fresh design and clear packaging on the side and colorful pasta made out of Red Lentil Beans and it advertised many features that I liked:

• Pasta made out of Red Lentils instead of flour
• No artificial color or preservatives
• High in Protein (19 grams) and Fiber (7 grams) per serving
• Gluten Free
• Vegetarian
• Has all items in packet to serve 4 people 
• Ready in 10 minutes

My first impression is this would be an overall healthier choice for a side dish or could be turned into a main dish by adding a protein.  The bean pasta also contained dried carrots and red bell peppers.

Although the instructions are the back seem straightforward at a glance, it doesn't indicate if the bean pasta is to be added to boiling water like you do regular pasta then reduce, bring to boil and reduce or any clue of what temperature the product should be cooked at other than "boil".

I cooked mine like regular pasta, added to boiling water then reduced heat, stirring occasionally and cooked 7 minutes (online instruction their website indicate 5-6 minutes).  It did form some foam on the top as indicated in the instructions, but it came out rather "gummy" like it was over cooked.

The website indicate you could add frozen broccoli, edamame or snow peas during the last minutes of boiling but did not recommend an amount or 

Drain it, but do not rinse and set aside.

For the sauce packet, it indicated 2 tablespoons oil (I used Canola), 1/2 cup water and open the sauce packet and mix.

The sauce looked like this when mixed.

To the cooked pasta, toss in the sauce from above then sprinkle the seasoning packet from the package on top as it is to add flavor.  

The website indicated you could add when tossing the noodles your own:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
• Sriracha sauce if you prefer it hot 

.Although I like what initially attracted me to the product as outlined above, I found the product to be:

• Lacking in specific instructions
• Lacking in flavor and rather bland.  I ended up adding a tablespoon of soy sauce to try to make palatable and did not feel I should have needed to do so.
• Not as carefree and simple successful dish as it seemed at first glance.

Although the red lentil pasta is unique, there are vegetable kinds of pasta on the market and you could easily make your own sauce or even buy a jarred sauce and it would be just as quick, get more for your money and taste better, so this is not a product I would recommend.