A supermarket meal deal has captured the nation's imagination by offering enough variety to create a different stir fry dinner every weeknight for over eleven years without repetition.
The Viral Revelation
The incredible discovery emerged when a Reddit user calculated that Tesco's popular stir fry meal deal presents a staggering 2970 possible combinations of bases, vegetables, proteins, and sauces. This means that if you enjoyed one of these £5 dinners every weekday, it would take you until 2036 to experience every possible variation.
Social media users have been enthusiastically sharing their approval of this culinary mathematics. One Reddit commenter joked: "Please report back in 11 years with your scores out of ten for each option. Thank you." Another simply declared: "Perfect post, no notes," while a third demanded: "I would now like a list of all 2970 combinations please!"
Breaking Down the Deal
Available at Tesco for just £5 with a Clubcard, the meal deal components offer remarkable variety across four categories. The selection includes six base options ranging from egg noodles at £1.10 to egg fried rice at £2.00 when purchased individually.
The vegetable selection provides eight choices including beansprouts at 80p, various stir fry mixes between £1.80 and £2.70, and specialty options like tenderstem and mangetout. Protein options span five varieties from diced chicken breast at £2.50 to king prawns at £3.50, including plant-based alternatives like Tofoo Co. Stir Fry.
Perhaps most impressively, the sauce selection offers eleven different flavours from classic teriyaki at 95p to more adventurous options like gochujang sauce at £1.20.
Putting Theory Into Practice
The original Reddit user demonstrated how the combinations work in reality, sharing their meal from 17 November featuring flat rice noodles, sweet pepper and sugar snap stir fry, Tofoo and gochujang sauce, which they rated an 8/10.
For those wanting to try the deal themselves, here's one suggested recipe using available components:
Ingredients:
- Protein Noodles
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Diced Chicken Breast
- Katsu Sauce
Method:
- Heat oil in a frying pan until hot and cook chicken pieces until golden
- In another wok, heat vegetable stir fry for 4 minutes while stirring continuously
- Add cooked chicken and combine for two minutes
- Mix in noodles for another two minutes
- Finally, add katsu sauce, mix thoroughly and serve immediately
The enduring popularity of stir fry dinners comes from their perfect combination of being quick, easy, and packed with flavour - qualities that make Tesco's deal particularly appealing for busy households seeking variety without breaking the bank.
