Compare lentils to lentils
Hi fans! In this episode we compare Yumbini Curried Turmeric Lentils and Rice to Maya Kaimal Everyday Dal, Black lentil, tomato & cumin.
category #1 - packaging
Weight of packaging:
- Yumbini: 4 grams
- Maya Kaimal: 9 grams
(Food scientist note: Yumbini is dry and lightweight so it needs less packaging. Maya Kaimal requires a thicker, more sturdy package because it is cooked under high heat and pressure in the pouch.)
Category #1 Winner: Yumbini
category #2 - ingredients
YUMBINI INGREDIENTS: PRECOOKED DRIED LENTILS, PRECOOKED ENRICHED LONG GRAIN RICE (RICE, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN, FOLIC ACID), SUNFLOWER OIL, SPICES (INCLUDING TURMERIC), DRIED RED BELL PEPPER, SALT, DRIED SPINACH, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID.
MAYA KAIMAL INGREDIENTS: BLACK LENTILS* (WATER, BLACK LENTILS), WATER, TOMATOES IN JUICE* (FRESH VINE-RIPENED TOMATOES*, TOMATO JUICE*, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID), ONION*, BLACK GRAM LENTILS* (WATER, SKINNED SPLIT BLACK GRAM LENTILS*), COCONUT CREAM* (EXTRACTED COCONUT*, WATER), TOMATO PASTE*, SUNFLOWER OIL*, GARLIC*, GINGER*, SEA SALT, CUMIN SEED*, CORIANDER*, CUMIN*, PAPRIKA*, CINNAMON*, CLOVE*, CARDAMOM*, BLACK PEPPER*, CAYENNE*. *ORGANICALLY GROWN AND PROCESSED. CONTAINS: TREE NUTS (COCONUT)
Yumbini ingredients are pretty straightforward: precooked and dried lentils and rice with sunflower oil, spices and seasonings. The Maya Kaimal ingredients are similar, though looking closely, you will see the main ingredient is WATER. They also contain an allergen (coconut), but the ingredients are all organic.
Category #2 Winner: Tie
category #3 - preparation and serving size
YUMBINI: Mix contents of pouch with 3/4 cup water, heat to boiling (about 3 minutes in microwave or stovetop), and wait 3 minutes. Cook in your own bowl or pot (no cooking in plastic!). You can even measure the amount of water in the empty pouch.
Makes a generous 1.5 cup serving. It is the perfect size for a meal for one person or as a side dish for two. The rice and lentils are both included so you don’t need to add anything else. But of course you can garnish with vegetables, nuts, fruits, herbs or unsweetened yogurt for a change of pace.
MAYA KAIMAL: Precooked so just heat. Microwave: tear open a 1-inch slit at either notch for venting, heat pouch in microwave 90 seconds; let stand 1 minute. Stovetop: Squeeze into a small pan and heat over low until piping hot, about 3-5 minutes.
Makes about one cup of sauce, which according to the package is two (rather small 1/2 cup) servings. If desired, you must provide your own bread or rice separately. Or the entire package of Everyday Dal can be enjoyed as a soup.
Yumbini package makes more food, and provides a simple single serving. Maya Kaimal microwave preparation involves cooking in the plastic pouch. Need to add your own rice or bread. And the serving size seems too much for one person but not enough for two.
Category #3 Winner: Yumbini
Category #4 - flavor
YUMBINI: Earthy curry flavor with noticeable spicy heat. Moist, firm, slightly starchy lentils and rice, not saucy.
MAYA KAIMAL: Very thin like tomato soup. Slightly sweet and quite sour. Large chunks of tomato and soft lentils. Cooked/caramelized flavor but no heat.
The flavor and texture of these two products are completely different, so impossible to compare.
Category #4 Winner: Tie
category #5 - nutrition
Even one (small 1/2 cup) serving of Maya Kaimal contains almost as much sodium, and more saturated fat than an entire (1.5 cup) package of Yumbini.
Comparing the entire packages to each other, calories are roughly the same (320 vs. 390). But Yumbini is higher in fiber, protein, and iron. While Maya Kaimal is again high in saturated fat and sodium.
Category #5 Winner – Yumbini
grand prize winner
Yumbini Curried Turmeric Lentils and Rice!
Q & A
Q: Why do you say Yumbini is the winner?
A: Regardless of the serving size, it is higher in fiber, protein and iron, and lower in saturated fat than Maya Kaimal. And it makes a full meal complete with rice
Q: What is wrong with saturated fat?
A: Eating saturated fat is associated with higher risk of heart disease.
Q: What is wrong with cooking in plastic?
A: Plastic pouches like Maya Kaimal uses are required by the FDA to be able to withstand high heat (after all, the food is cooked/sterilized in the pouch). These are generally considered safe. On the other hand, heating plastic increases the risk of chemicals leaching into the food.
