Food critic Hannah Evans has delivered her verdict on Aktar at Home's luxury curry feast, calling it "mouthwateringly good" after tasting the range that recently won nine Great Taste awards.
The ready meal range, launched by Birmingham chef Aktar Islam in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, offers gourmet curries starting at £9.95. Last week, the range was awarded nine prestigious Great Taste awards, including seven two-star prizes.
A chef's traditional approach
Islam, who runs Opheem, a £195-a-head, 10-course fine-dining establishment in Birmingham and one of only four two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurants in the world, says the ready meals follow the same principles as his restaurant kitchen.
"Everything is cooked in a totally traditional way from start to finish, exactly how you would in someone's home in India. It's the same principles as in our two-Michelin-star kitchen," he told The Times.
Critic's verdict
Evans purchased one of Aktar at Home's mixed box deals, which contain eight dishes and are rated to feed four to eight people. She said "it could easily have fed 10."
"The dhaba gosht mutton curry was soft and tender, the murgh makhani was mouthwateringly good and the Keralan beef curry is still the subject of my group chat with friends days later. And all for £85. That's cheaper than a Deliveroo takeaway and much cheaper than eating out," she said.
No supermarket plans
Islam insists he will never sell out to one of the big supermarkets and will continue to sell through his own website.
"We've been approached. But I am a very principled chef, and because of what they'd like us to do to meet their metrics, it's something I've chosen not to do," he says. "Ultimately I see my job as educating people on what Indian food is supposed to be."
Customer reviews have been consistently positive. One diner wrote: "We ordered our own varied selection of meat curries and rice. We particularly liked the lamb curries but all were lovely. Good portions, easy to prepare. Highly recommend. We have some fantastic curry restaurants and takeaways in our area and these compare well. Also very reasonably priced for the quality."
However, some customers noted that delivery can sometimes be unreliable, suggesting it's wise to order food to arrive a day or two before the planned meal. Another customer added: "I always enjoy watching Aktar on TV, so why not try his dishes. As Asian food enthusiasts, I can honestly say, this is the best take-away we have ever eaten. I'm so pleased we tried the mini curry box as it is perfect for two people having a lazy weekend."
They said the dishes were "so simple to prepare," adding that "only additions were a squeeze of lemon and some fresh coriander. Perfect in every way."
