I tried ready meal curry from Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S - 1 was better than my favourite takeaway

The nation's favourite takeaway, chicken tikka masala, is now available as a ready meal in almost every supermarket. But with so many options, which one truly offers the best curry?

The Mirror Online's Niamh Kirk took on the task of finding out which supermarket serves up the best chicken tikka masala, and here she writes that it was no easy feat given the stiff competition.

Chicken tikka masala, adapted for British tastebuds, is arguably Britain's favourite curry. It's delicious, not overly spicy, and widely available.

It's always my first choice when ordering a curry, so I decided to put some major supermarkets to the test. I compared offerings from Sainsbury's, Aldi, Tesco, Waitrose and M&S - and one of them seriously impressed me.

In fact, I think I might prefer it to my local takeaway. Alongside my five supermarket ready meals with rice, I opted for two naans to soak up the sauces and give myself an authentic Indian cuisine experience, with the help of some family members too, reports the Mirror.

Tesco - £3.50

First on the list was Tesco's version. At first glance, it appeared to be a standard curry with its classic orange sauce, chunks of chicken and yellow pilau rice.

Priced at £3.30, it fell into the average ready meal category, so I didn't have high expectations. However, upon tasting, it was surprisingly delightful.

The strong hints of spices were immediately noticeable, and it had a very herby yet creamy taste. The pieces of chicken were generous, leaving me seriously impressed.

4/5.

Waitrose - £3.95

Next up was Waitrose's chicken tikka masala. As someone who doesn't usually shop at Waitrose, this was an exciting opportunity to try something new.

Being the second most expensive, I was expecting a slightly more premium ready meal. It certainly looked the part, with its rich sauce and large chunks of chicken.

However, my high expectations quickly faded.

Although it bore some resemblance to a chicken tikka, I found this one quite bland, resembling more of a creamy tomato sauce than a curry. There was no spice or herb taste like the Tesco one, and the chicken was also quite dry.

2/5.

Aldi - £2.29

Aldi has recently introduced their new 'Bilash' curry range, featuring their own version of the classic chicken tikka masala. Priced at £2.49, it was the cheapest out of the five, but surprisingly, it turned out to be the best.

The sauce was thick and creamy with just the right amount of spice for an authentic taste. It had plenty of chicken with a chargrilled aftertaste and a strong aroma of spices.

5/5.

M&S - £5.50

The M&S chicken tikka was the priciest item, costing £5.50, so high expectations were set. At first glance, it looked premium with its rich, oily sauce and large chunks of chargrilled chicken.

However, it didn't taste as good as the Aldi or Tesco one. It tasted more like a tomato sauce than a curry.

For the price, it wasn't impressive. 1/5.

Sainsbury's - £3.30

Sainsbury's ready meals are always a reliable choice, and you can usually expect a tasty meal. Their chicken tikka masala, priced at £3.30, was reasonable.

The sauce was creamy with a strong hint of herbs and spices, and there was a good amount of chicken included. While it didn't 'wow' me, I was satisfied with the dish.

3/5.

Conclusion

While many supermarket offerings are similar, Aldi's version from the Bilash range left a lasting impression on me. Considering its price, it's definitely a bargain.

It's safe to say that all supermarkets are quite generous with the quantity of chicken and sauce provided in their dishes. They were all substantial, hearty meals and while some may not match up to authentic takeaways, they certainly provide a quick and easy treat.